"Thinking and acting strategically....to deliver competitive advantage"

UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY is a unique strategy simulation that enables participants to practice strategic decision-making in a risk-free environment.

The simulation challenges participants to make decisions about how they allocate the resources of an organisation in order to develop the capabilities that deliver business performance. Even the best strategies have a limited life. Here's how your organisation can re-invigorate and develop its strategic thinking in a risk-free environment.

"The ability to implement strategy and to see the results provides an outstanding learning experience for all participants". Professor Richard Whittington, leading academic and top selling author on strategy.

Companies are using UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY for three main purposes and business benefits:

Strategic Thinking:

Companies are using UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY to kick-start a strategic thinking among senior managers. By working through the process of a full strategic review of a fictional business and its use of resources in delivering shareholder value, participants are faced with the realities of how these processes could work in their own organisation and evaluate how they could improve ROI in their own organisation.

Development of High Potential People:

For the development of high-potential individuals who require the ability to think and act strategically as they take on more responsible roles.

Strategic Consultancy:

Development for managers in organisations that provide business advice or finance to other businesses, where the ability to provide such advice would be enhanced by better strategic awareness and understanding of the owner-manager's decision-making processes.

Capabilities developed:

• The ability to think and act strategically.
• Enhanced business and commercial awareness.
• Capacity to identify factors which lead to competitive advantage.
• Ability to analyse options for company growth.
• Experience allocating resources to develop organisational capabilities that deliver shareholder value.
• Intensive experience in working in teams with peers and making decisions by consensus

Simulation Description:

This exciting computer-based simulation challenges participants to develop a comprehensive strategic analysis of a group of companies and implement strategic choices for optimum Competitive Advantage, then see impact of their decisions on the financial and non-financial performance indicators.

Activities for participants:

• Develop a comprehensive strategic analysis
• Understand current position of the group
• Identify Critical Success Factors
• Make Strategic Choices
• Implement Strategic Choices through decision making
• See impact of decisions on financial and non-financial measures

Suitable for:

• middle to senior managers
• senior executives
• directors / partners
• those who need to have a strategic knowledge - at all levels in the organisation

Customisation:

• Client management development needs are different. Therefore every recommendation will be customised to specific needs.

Number of participants:

The optimum number in each team should be no more than 8. There can be any number of teams.

Duration:

UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY can be delivered over two or three days.

Delivery:

Turn-key delivery by the Learning Dynamics team includes:

• introduction to the simulation via video and slide presentation
• briefing on objectives and performance measurement indicators
• briefing on company scenarios and number of trading periods
• if it is designed to be competitive, adjudication of winners and presentation
• provision and installation of all materials & equipment  
• Q & A session

Companies who have benefited from UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY:

Top 5 Financial Services group:
Objective:

Fast track a group of designated senior managers in the knowledge and practice of strategy - how it fits in with business decision making.

Solution:

Embed the UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY simulation within a two-day learning programme.

Top Global Media Group:
Objective:

Give operating unit managing directors a better understanding of strategy so they could be more effective in M&A opportunities.

Solution:

UNDERSTANDING STRATEGY was designed in as the core of a three-day programme.

Contact details for further discussion: