Managing personal priorities

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Course Overview

Many people see ‘fire fighting’ as a normal part of their day and learn to live with it. Whereas we all have to fire-fight on occasions, it’s easy to dismiss doing something about it.

Nobody  would  suggest  that  a  one  day Time Management course would enable you to sort out the worlds problems the next day but if you are honest with yourself you would find areas where many improvements could be made.  This can make you more efficient and more potentially effective as well.

Course Focus

-   Practical  tools  to  increase  work  day efficiency
-   How  to  identify  poor  areas  of  time management
-   Tips to better manage your time
-   Balancing work and personal time
-   Setting goals, prioritising and planning
-   Conquering time wasters
-   Improved problem solving & decision- making
-   General ways to better your lifestyle

Course Outcomes

On completion of this one-day course you should be able to:

-    Establish  how  effective you  have been in using your time
-    Monitor  how  you’re  presently spending your time
-    Identify  personal  and  group  time wasters
-    Evaluate alternative time usage strategies
-    Improve your usage of time
-    Improve  planning  of  activities  and projects (although not a ‘primary focus’ of this course).

Who should attend?

Professionals, managers, team leaders, team members.

Course delivery

This course is delivered online & in- house.  It can be customised to suit organisational needs eg this could include referencing organisational systems and tools, introducing project management etc.
 

Course Outline

1.    Introduction - What is Time Management?

2.    Starting point – How Effective are you using your Time?

•    60 seconds test
•    current reality wheel
•    Wheel of success in Time Management
•    Self evaluation – Questionnaire results
•    Time Log & Activities sheets

3.    How to control Your Use of Time - Roadmap

•    Examples of Successful Time Management

4.    Identifying and conquering time wasters

•    External
•    Internal

5    Setting Goals and Prioritising

•    Why Set Goals-
•    Setting Goals & Prioritising

6.   Planning

7    Take Action

•    Tips to continue effective time management

8.   Where to Now?

•    Positive attitudes & mindset
•    Assessment
•    Reminder breaking habits & time saving strategies

Course Duration

This course is typically delivered in one day. If customised (eg including basic project management tools and principles), it can be delivered in two days.

Overview

A practical course in scenario planning in which participants will:

§         Anticipate possible future scenarios

§         Explore uncertainties and forces that are impacting on the future

§         Examine possible future developments that could impact on individuals, organisations or societies

§         Think proactively and plan for the future

 

Organisations facing conditions such as the following can benefit from scenario planning:

§         High levels of risk, uncertainty and complexity

§         A desire to influence events

§         Low level of strategic thinking

§         Industry has changed significantly

§         A recognized need to anticipate change

§         Past mistakes such as costly surprises

§         Few new opportunities being developed

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course participants should be able to:

§         Identify future driving forces

§         Link scenarios to business strategy

§         Enhance your ability to manage change

§         Manage risk proactively

§         Apply principles of systems thinking

§         Reduce the likelihood of surprises

§         Develop robust strategies to deal with complexity and uncertainty

§         Improve your decision making capability

§         Avoid common pitfalls


Case Studies (selected from)

§         Royal Dutch Shell

§         Queensland Transport

§         Scenarios for the Post-Industrial City

§         National City Bank - aligning IT & business

§         World Economic Forum and the Confederation of Indian Industry: India@Risk

§         Agricultural Science and Technology in India

§         Strategy Failure in America’s Largest Telco

§         Driving forces in health

§         Aerospace business environment

§         Energy industry scenarios

§         Gas asset management

§         Water utility uncertainty

Overview of content

DAY ONE

Session One - Putting scenario planning into context

• Using scenario planning to develop corporate strategy

• The what and why of scenario planning

• Generative and adaptive scenarios - your level of control or influence

• Range of applications

• Views of the world

• Exploration of high risk industries (public, private and non-profit) - general and specific

 Activity: Identify the key external factors that impact your organisation

 

Session Two - Understanding the scenario development process

• Models and processes to shape the future

• Scenario planning steps

• Developing stories about the future

• Applying principles of Systems Thinking

 Activity: Develop four different possible futures

 

Session Three - Identifying the key drivers of change

• Recognising predetermined elements

• Separating knowns from critical uncertainties

• Examining risk and levels of uncertainty

• Developing checklists of drivers: political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal

• Ranking driving forces by uncertainty and importance

 Activity: Rank driving forces

 

Session Four - Laying the foundations for scenarios

• Identifying driving forces

• Selecting key issues which are most relevant to the future

• Setting the scenario agenda

• Analysing and questioning assumptions

• Engaging with stakeholders

 Activity: Select key issues & analyse assumptions

 

Session Five - Building powerful scenarios

• Scoping – exploring boundaries and terms of reference

• Applying deductive, inductive, normative and incremental methods

• Asking the right questions

• Designing scenarios using story templates

• Dealing with change – culture & perceptions

 Activity: Create a scenario matrix

 

Session Six - Evaluating scenarios from a range of perspectives

• Developing criteria to evaluate scenarios

• Identifying critical success factors

• Applying principles of reflection

• Analysing implications from the perspective of key external & internal stakeholders

 Activity: Test your scenarios for consistency, plausibility and other key criteria

• Day one wrap-up

 

DAY TWO


Session One - Managing risk – responding to uncertainty

• Identifying and evaluating risks including critical uncertainties

• Exploring pandemic scenarios

• Capitalising on opportunities

• Responding to risks

• Activity:  Undertake a risk analysis

 

Session Two - Bridging from scenarios to strategies

• Exploring the implications of diverse scenarios

• Linking short-term action plans and long term strategies

• Reading early-warning signs

• Prioritising external and internal initiatives

• Building sustainable strategies – closing the implementation gap

Activity: Identify early warning signs

 

Session Three - Developing mechanisms to deal with disruptive changes

• Speculating on future crises

• Using wind tunnels to test the future

• Increasing managers capability through shared mental models

• Exploring emerging issues that will change the shape of our world

• Ensuring that we are prepared to meet future challenges

• Shaping the wider policy agenda

 Activity: Managing perceptions and potential reactions


Session Four - Managing successful scenario planning projects - process and content

• Producing the project plan – roles, KPI’s, deliverables, timing, resources etc

• Planning the logistics – invitations, venue, timing

• Developing the stakeholder management plan

• Gathering up relevant information

• Developing questionnaires and agendas

• Engaging with stakeholders through interviews, workshops etc

 Activity: Develop an outline scenario planning project plan

 

Session Five - Applying further tools and techniques

• Systems thinking

• Creative thinking principle & tools

• Wide Band Delpi

• Strategic alliances

• Other approaches to scenario development

 Activity: Apply advanced tools to enhance your scenario

 

Session Six - Plenary session and wrap-up – Key factors for successful scenario planning

• Developing proactive approaches

• Consolidating insights on building and using scenarios

• Avoiding scenario planning traps

• Building leaders at all levels

Activity: Develop your action plan

• Summary and close

 

Who should attend?

Senior managers, managers, program managers, strategic planners, account managers

 

Course Duration

Typically two days.  Can be delivered in one day format

Develop practical strategies in challenging environments

Every business leader would like to create a sound strategy and have it executed well; however, accomplishing this remains and elusive goal for most business organisations”.
Chifley Business School

"Strategy is a style of thinking, a conscious and deliberate process, an intensive implementation system, the science of insuring future success."
Pete Johnson

Course Overview

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Formulate, execute and monitor organizational strategies using proven approaches.  Develop sustainable vision, mission and measurable goals with an aligned implementation framework.
Participants apply models and tools to their own situations (organisations, business units) through a range of interactive activities.

Who should attend?
Senior managers, directors, business unit managers, line managers, consultants, program managers, Senior Account Managers, Planners, Marketing Managers.

Course Duration
Online or typically: one or two days.
Customised:    two    or    more    days. (eg   including   portfolio   management and program management)

Course Outcomes

On completion of this course you should be able to:

- Develop   strategy   in   complex,   fast- changing and uncertain environments
- Apply proven models and tools to the development of practical strategies informed by examples and case studies
- Shape business objectives
- Avoid common pitfalls ranging from the absence of strategic thinking to unsupported unrealistic strategies.
- Formulate  strategic  plans  to  advance and grow your organization

Strategic Management Course Outline

Session One - Overview & definitions

•    What is strategy?
•    Strategic thinking, strategic management & strategic planning
•    Barriers to strategic planning
•    Strategic planning framework
•    Strategic purpose - Vision, Mission, Values

Session Two - Analysing the external environment & industry positioning:

•    Scenario planning
•    PESTLE analysis
•    Porter’s Five Forces
•    Competitive advantage

Session Three - Internal analysis – determining organisational capability:

•    Sustainable competitive advantage
•    Value chain analysis
•    Core organisational competencies
•    Strategic gap analysis

Session Four - Strategic objectives & options:

•    Framing objectives
•    Strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
•    Key Performance Indicators
•    Corporate strategy matrix
•    Boston Consulting Group matrix
•    Option development and evaluation

Session five - The strategic plan and implementation – from planning to reality:

•    Development of the strategic plan
•    Assessing strategic performance
•    Balanced scorecard
•    Stakeholder engagement
•    Program & project planning
•    McKinsey 7-S Framework
•    Managing change