Strategic Thinking

Assess your organization’s strategy, culture, and operations and analyze competitors and the larger industry. Use strategic thinking to identify opportunities for competitive advantage.

Description

Strategic thinking is defined as both a way of looking at the world—particularly at challenging situations—and as a way of applying a set of techniques for framing and solving problems. It takes different forms in different situations, and certain levels of strategic thinking are more efficient for various industries and corporate cultures.

In this course, participants learn the four basic levels of strategic thinking under which an organization can operate, and the circumstances under which an organization must shift to a higher strategic level. At the completion of the course, participants will be able to prepare a competitive analysis of an organization, with recommendations for strategic development based on an industry analysis and an understanding of the organization's history, culture, and current operations.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is essential for all levels of managers, directors, and company officers who are responsible for making their organization a leader in its industry.

Course Format

All eCornell courses are delivered online and are self-paced. An eCornell instructor leads the online discussions, grades any course projects, and is available to answer specific questions about the course content.

This course contains the following modules:

• The Context for Strategic Thinking
  • The levels of strategic thinking at which an organization can operate, the factors that lead to an optimum level, and the circumstances under which organizations shift to a new strategic level
  • Determining the optimum level of strategic thinking for an organization's industry and culture
  • The concept of strategic intent and its appropriateness for your company or industry
• Thinking Strategically About Your Organization
  • Using Porter's Five Forces model to analyze the operating environment in an industry
  • Managing products and product lines based on the BCG volume/margin model
  • The relationship between core competencies (at the company level) and key success factors (at the industry level)
  • Identifying core competencies and success factors required for any particular industry
  • Preparing a competitive analysis of a company, based on the industry in general, and an understanding of its current operations and culture

Benefits to the Learner

Participants who complete this course will be able to:

• Identify different levels of strategic thinking and determine which is optimal for their organization
• Determine the factors that influence organizations to change their level of strategic thinking
• Determine the core competencies and key success factors in an industry
• Apply the concept of strategic intent and evaluate its appropriateness in a specific organization or industry
• Prepare a competitive analysis of an organization

Authoring Faculty

Michael J. Hostetler, Lecturer of Leadership

Sponsoring School

Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management

Total Learning Time

Approximately five to six hours over a period of two weeks.

Certificate Information

This course can be applied toward the following certificates:

• Business Leadership Skills
• Executive Leadership
• Strategic Hospitality Management

HRCI Recertification

This course been approved for six (6) Strategic Management recertification credit hours toward SPHR and GPHR recertification and six (6) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute. Please contact the Human Resource Certificate Institute (HRCI) for further information about certification or recertification.

This course qualifies for 6.25 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) for Professional Project Managers (PMPs) seeking ongoing education and professional development for continuing certification. eCornell is a Global Registered Education Provider of PMI. PDUs are designated as Category 3.

Project Management Institute Professional Development Units