Business Acumen Series
Strategy Execution
Critical Thinking and Strategy Alignment
Noteworthy Quote: "Vision is one of the least understood — yet most important — concepts for building great organizations." — Jim Collins, author of From Good to Great
Program Overview
In times of economic uncertainty and increased competition, critical thinking and strategy alignment have become required competencies for managers at all levels of the organization. This workshop offers highly-interactive discussions on proven methods for shaping and implementing a vision. Participants will walk away from the workshop with an in-depth understanding of the intersection of strategic thinking, vision commitment, and the importance of business acumen when implementing the vision.
Who should attend?
This workshop is designed for any professional seeking to improve their knowledge and skills with regards to critical thinking and strategy alignment. Participants typically include new managers and directors, middle managers, and experienced managers identified as having executive potential that need to transition from a tactical thinking role to a strategic thinking role within the organization.
How will this benefit you and your organization?
Participants will walk away from the workshop with an in-depth understanding of the intersection of strategic thinking, vision commitment, and the importance of business acumen when implementing the vision.
What topics are covered?
Most experts in business and academia define critical thinking as a form of judgment, specifically purposeful and reflective judgment. In using critical thinking one makes a decision or solves the problem of judging what to believe or what to do, but does so in a reflective way. Critical thinking gives due consideration to the evidence, the context of judgment, and the relevant criteria for making that judgment well. It also focuses on the applicable methods or techniques for forming that judgment, and the applicable theoretical constructs for understanding the nature of the problem and the question at hand. The workshop offers small-team exercises and a short case study to demonstrate the connection between critical thinking and strategy alignment.
- The Paradox of the Puzzle: An innovative small-team exercise illustrating the challenges of critical thinking.
- The Lessons of Lincoln Electric: A short case study demonstrating the importance of strategic leadership.
- Porter's 5 Forces Analysis: A framework for industry analysis and strategy development developed by Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School. It uses concepts developed in Industrial Organization (IO) economics to derive 5 forces that determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market.
Faculty
Allen C. Amason is an associate professor of management at the Terry College of Business and a leading authority on issues related to strategic decision making, strategy alignment, managing team conflict, values and leadership in top management teams, and organizational performance. Allen has taught numerous courses at the Executive MBA level and received the Terry College of Business Outstanding Teaching Award in 2006. He is the past senior associate editor for the Journal of Management. Allen earned a PhD in strategic management from the University of South Carolina.
*The Terry College of Business and The Office of Executive Programs reserve the right to change this workshop's instructor without prior notice to participants.
Duration and Cost
This is a one-day workshop held from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the UGA Terry Executive Education Center located at 3475 Lenox Road, Suite 300, in Buckhead. In 2009, this workshop is offered on:
- Thursday, March 4
The workshop fee is $750. A 10% discount is available to companies that send a team of two or more to the same workshop. The registration deadline for the March 4 workshop is March 3.
The Terry College of Business offers sixteen (16) different one-day workshops in the areas of leadership, operations management, accounting and finance, sales and marketing, and strategy. If a person completes six (6) workshops within a 12-month period they receive a University of Georgia Terry Certificate in Business Management. If a person completes ten (10) workshops, including all four of the workshops in the leadership series, within a 24-month period they receive a University of Georgia Terry Advanced Certificate in Business Leadership.
Registration Options
Register a group of two or more »
Please contact the Office of Executive Programs at 706-425-3051 for more information.
Contact Information
University of Georgia
Executive Education Center in Atlanta
One Live Oak Center
3475 Lenox Road
