Strategic Planning Course (Level 3 Diploma)

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a Level 3 Diploma in Strategic Planning. Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning Diploma in Strategic Planning is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for an exam or career through home study. What's more, because the distance learning Level 3 Diploma in Strategic Planning course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

This Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma course looks at providing the theory and concepts towards the journey of Business Strategic Planning.

Strategic planning is an organisation's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. Various business analysis techniques can be used in strategic planning, including SWOT and PEST analysis.

Strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organisation's future course. All strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions:

1."What do we do?"
2."For whom do we do it?"
3."How do we excel?"

The course will appeal to students of Management and Business Administration who are looking for a practical foundation in this subject area. In addition, Business Managers wishing to expand their horizons into strategic business planning will find this course an invaluable guide into the theory and practice of strategic planning.

COURSE KEY TOPICS:

Module One - Introduction to Business Strategic Planning
Module Two - The journey of strategy making
Module Three - Accepted theories and concepts of strategic planning
Module Four - Stakeholder Analysis and Management
Module Five - Developing Models of Strategic Planning
Module Six - The method approach to strategic planning
Module Seven - Working with teams - group approach to strategic development
Module Eight - Maps and Models for Workshops
Module Nine - Methods of Delivery - Implementing Strategic Concepts
Module Ten - Concepts of Interlock - integrating strategic planning into the business framework

HOME STUDY SUPPORT:

You will be provided with comprehensive materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact our Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

What's more, you'll have access to the online student portal, where you can interact with other students, browse our resource library and manage your account.

COURSE ASSESSMENT:

When you have completed the programme, your tutor needs to verify that you have worked through all parts of any Workbooks, Activities and Exercises successfully.

100% of the final mark is made up of an online multiple choice exam.

Upon verification of the activities, exercises and assignments, you will be awarded your diploma by OLQA as confirmation that your written work has met all of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the programme.

COURSE DURATION:

We recommended you spend approximately 200 hours of your time studying for the course name. The pace of study is completely up to you. To give an example, if you dedicate 4 hours a week to the course it would take you a year to complete but if you could spare 8 hours a week you could complete it in six months.

Get started today, and you can earn your Level 3 Diploma in Strategic Planning in as little as six months, or take up to a year, if you prefer – the choice is yours.

HOME STUDY COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

All Students must be 16 years of age or above.

The good news is that no prior learning knowledge or experience is essential to take this course. This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Strategic Planning and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 12 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

The OLQA Level 3 Strategic Planning course is divided into ten comprehensive modules:

Module One
Introduction to Business Strategic Planning
This unit provides the foundation material for the course. It examines, at a high level, both the theories and concepts of strategic planning and the methods, techniques and toolsets employed. The students learns the early differentiation between IS Strategic Planning and IT Strategic Planning. The broader perspectives are examined including Corporate Planning and the interlock to key components such as Programme Management and Change Management.

Module Two
The journey of strategy making
This refers to the cyclical approach of strategic decision making (the journey). It will consider such items as:

Political feasibility
Role of participation
Determination of reality
Shareholder Management
The links between strategy and organizational change
Using computer support as an assistance in strategic delivery

Module Three
Accepted theories and concepts of strategic planning
This unit examines the varying theories and concepts supporting this approach.

The accepted definitions and theories of strategic planning
The concepts in constructing a strategic plan
The important aspects of business integration
Strategy as a catalyst for promoting business change
Identification of risk and managing strategic problems

Module Four
Stakeholder Analysis and Management
This unit looks at the determination of the key stakeholders in IS Strategic Planning.

Managing the competing demands of different sets of stakeholders
Analysis of Stakeholders
Stakeholder Influence
The Stakeholder Grid - Thinking about stakeholders
Modelling the basis of power and interest
The coherence of strategy making - inclusion of stakeholder views

Module Five
Developing Models of Strategic Planning
This unit examines the complexity of strategic planning and the type of planning models that can be produced.

The conventional approaches to strategic planning - the accepted models
Latest trends and techniques in strategic planning
Managing Executive acceptance and understanding - the consultants dilemma
A look at the structured approaches to strategic planning

Module Six
The method approach to strategic planning
This unit considers the formal structured method approaches to completing a strategic plan. The following areas are examined:

Introduction to structured planning techniques
Approaches adopted by the big international strategy houses
A look in depth at the approach put forward by OGC for strategic development work within the UK Government Departments
Concepts of interlock - how the pieces fit together
Computer software assists supporting strategy development

Module Seven
Working with teams - group approach to strategic development
This unit explores the importance of group dynamics within the overall concept of strategic development work.

Guidelines for working with teams
Computer supported group workshops
Getting the best from team interaction
Concepts of Brainstorming
Oval Mapping Workshops

Module Eight
Maps and Models for Workshops
Workshops form a vital part in the gathering, analysis and dissemination of information for strategic planning. This unit explores the maps and models that support this approach.

Guidelines for analyzing interview maps
Basic Map analysis
Locating goals and strategic issues
Creating Categories
Developing draft and core options
Analyzing maps and computer models

Module Nine
Methods of Delivery - Implementing Strategic Concepts
This unit explores how strategic plans are converted to action plans and subsequently rolled out and implemented.

Key interlock criteria - Programme and Change Management
Interface to Corporate Planning
Benefits Measurement Criteria
Modularity in strategic planning
Managing Risks and Exposure
Key implementation criteria

Module Ten
Concepts of Interlock - integrating strategic planning into the business framework
This unit examines how strategic planning fits into a holistic model within the Corporate architecture.

The holistic strategic model
The importance of interlock
Communications in strategic planning
The facilitator - winning hearts and minds Vignettes - Case studies of strategic planning in action.

Minimum 16 years of age.