Best Practices in Strategy Execution

This seminar creatively combines theory and application to enrich the learning experience and ensure that participants acquire a practical understanding of the strategy execution process.

It is estimated that 90% of strategies that fail falter in implementation. Most leaders start out with the best of intentions, but before too long, focus, energy and confidence can start to wane. Strategy execution has to compete for resources and attention with the demands of running the business. Unless you have prepared for this, the urgency of the day-to-day will always win out.

The Four Keys to Successful Strategy Execution

Masters of implementation know there are no tricks or fancy techniques that will do the heavy lifting for them. The key to successful implementation of strategy lies in being:

• Organized – there is a plan to follow and a schedule to keep everyone on track – 70% of companies with a formal execution system report outperforming their peer group.
• Committed – leaders throughout the organization believe in the strategy and contribute all that is required of them and their business units.
• Disciplined – follow-through is expected and recognized. Deviations from the plan are noticed, analyzed and addressed.
• Agile – adjustments are made to adapt to changes and faulty assumptions. Flexibility and learning are the necessary complement to being organized and disciplined.

***IMPORTANT NOTE – It is highly recommended that “High Impact Strategic Planning” be taken prior to this course.

Applied Learning Design

• Best-practice ideas and models for what works
• Easy to apply methods and tools for organizing and leading implementation
• Assessment of organizational preparedness for strategy execution
• Application of analytic and design tools to each participants’ own organization

Learning Outcomes

• The 7 keys to successful strategy execution
• A practical and effective 4 phase method for orchestrating and managing the strategy execution process, based on the experience of the most successful organizations
• The major challenges and dilemmas of implementation and how to tackle them
• Strategy execution leadership roles and requirements including: design, governance, coaching and problem solving

***Please note that this course can be customized to your organization’s needs and can be delivered onsite or at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington.  For more information, click here.

Program Faculty

Alex Lowy consults widely as a strategic advisor and educator, helping organizations around the world address major dilemmas in a systematic and effective manner. His clients have included technology firms (HP, IBM), banks (CIBC, BMO) resources companies (Shell) and government (Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Metropolitan Toronto Police Force). He is an adjunct faculty member at four business schools (DeGroote in Hamilton, Schulich in Toronto, Saint Mary’s in Halifax and Memorial in Newfoundland) where he teaches business strategy and critical thinking skills to executives. He writes extensively on the topic of strategy and decision-making, with articles in such journals as Strategy & Leadership, Business 2.0 and Group & Organization Studies.

Alex is co-author of several best-selling business books including The Power of the 2 x 2 Matrix (Jossey Bass, 2004, with Phil Hood) and Digital Capital (Harvard Business School Press, 2000, with Don Tapscott & David Ticoll). His most recent book, No Problem, was published in 2007, and is being taught in business schools in Canada, the USA and Malaysia.