‘Strategy’ is one of the most over-worked words in the management lexicon, perhaps because of the complexity of strategy in the modern government sector. Very often the term ‘strategy’ is mistakenly used as an alternative to ‘policy’ to which it is closely linked but is not an alternative. If there is confusion about the meaning of the term in your organisation there is also likely to be confusion about how to make good strategy. That lack of clarity will transmit itself throughout the organisation and externally to stakeholders, leaving staff confused and government services sub-optimal.
Very often strategy is also confused with the processes and tools involved rather than the outcome of the process. Popularly, it is often thought to be only about grand designs. However the view of the UK’s Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, which we share, is that: ‘Successful strategies are rarely achieved by spontaneous flashes of genius, but rather result from the systematic collection, analysis and evaluation of facts, circumstances, trends and opinions.’
This course reflects that theme and builds on and replaces our long running and highly acclaimed Management and Policy Development Skills programme with an increased focus on strategic level issues. In government strategy is a key skill in the continuing world-wide transition from the traditional emphasis on ‘good administration’ to modern, active management concerned with performance in framing and achieving political objectives.
The course will therefore equip senior staff in particular to contribute to and lead work on strategy in their organisation. It will also assist those leading strategy teams. To both ends, the course is centred on practical skills, not just the theory of strategy work.