Strategic Productivity

This course is delivered in partnership with The Productivity Institute.

Led by Professor Bart Van Ark from the Productivity Institute, this course will delve into the intricacies of strategic productivity, exploring frameworks, tools, and industry case studies which will empower delegates to identify the strategies needed to advance their organisational efficiency.

You will:

• Cultivate a strategic mindset allowing you to identify which metrics to measure to start improving productivity
• Develop a clearer understanding of why productivity matters and how it can positively impact your business
• Gain expert knowledge and insight from The Productivity Institute by accessing their world class research and real-world case studies
• Align your businesses productivity processes with wider strategic goals, and learn how to make tactical day-to-day decisions to achieve them
• Understand the social and ESG impact of investing in your business’s infrastructure
• Build a strong professional network of industry experts, opening doors to future collaboration and mentorship

How your organisation benefits

• Explore practicable, actionable productivity strategies that can be tailored to your specific organisational challenges
• Discover the key factors contributing to your organisation competing effectively in a UK and international business market
• Gain insights into how productivity directly impacts your organisation’s bottom line, KPIs and industry benchmarks
• Implement ideas which future proof your organisation by prioritising adaptability and proactivity
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within your organisation, which focuses on operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness

Manchester Professional Certificate

Hard copy certificate - Included

• Strategic Productivity- course brochure - > download

Course topics

This course will be underpinned by the Strategic Productivity Framework, a tool developed by the Productivity Institute which brings together research into what makes a business productive.

During your time of this course, you will explore five core pillars of productivity – access to finance, innovation and digital, worker skills and well-being, leadership and management, marketing and communication – to help you future proof your business.

Day one: Motivation, Measurement and Management of Productivity

• What is productivity?
• Why does it matter for economy, strategy and society
• Why has productivity growth slowed and can we expect it to recover
• Introducing the three I’s for productivity: Innovation, Investment and Institutions
• Measurement and management of productivity
• Long-term vs. short-term focus in strategy
• The role of the CEO / Managing Director
• Developing a productivity narrative for your business

Day two: Innovating for Productivity

• The concepts of business efficiency and business innovation
• Research and development
• Digital technology, AI and digital adoption
• Servitization and platformatization
• Workforce effects
• The role of technology, innovation and digital leaders
• Create a business innovation strategy

Day three: Investment for Productivity

• Finance and investment for productivity
• Skills and management competencies
• Flexible teams
• The role of the finance leader
• The role of the human capital leader
• Develop an investment plan for strategic assets

Day four: Collaborating for Productivity

• Internal collaboration and communication
• Marketing and brands as productive assets
• External collaboration: the ecosystem concept
• Boardroom dynamics: bringing productivity angles into the boardroom
• Develop a boardroom agenda for productivity

Throughout the course, you will take part in a productivity driven project and present your work to the group on the final day, where you will gain insightful feedback from your peers on how you can implement your learnings back into your organisation.

There will be a networking drinks reception on evening one where you will get to know your course colleagues. There will also be a course dinner on evening three, offering the opportunity for your class to come together with a wider cohort of short-course learners to expand your networking opportunities.

This course is for senior leaders from businesses with a staff base of 250+ who are engaged with the strategic decisions, performance management, and operational activity of their organisation.

Delegates are welcomed from a broad variety of industries, ranging from construction to retail, as well as international leaders travelling to Manchester from overseas.

Mid-senior management responsibilities

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Manchester Professional Certificate. Paper copies of certificates will be given to you on the last day of the course. Within ten days of completing the course, you will also receive a digital certificate and digital badge to share across your social media.

The course contributes to the Manchester Professional Development Programme.