Course Outline

Session 1: Strategic Thinking

  • The meaning of 'Strategic'
  • Three Core Areas of Organizational Strategy for Government
  • Process, Content, Context
  • Process Linking the Three Core Areas

Session 2: The Challenges of Leadership

  • Management and Leadership for Government
  • Leadership Theories
  • Expectations of Leaders and Their Staff in Government
  • Identifying Leadership Traits
  • What Makes a Good Leader in the Public Sector
  • Inspiration, Impact, and Charisma in Leadership Versus the "Loner" for Government
  • Transformational Leadership for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 3: Establishing a Vision

  • 'Mission' Versus 'Vision'
  • Why Strategic Plans Fail and How to Avoid Failure for Government
  • Agreeing on a Robust Vision for Government
  • The Need for Clarity and Measurability in Government
  • Getting Buy-in to the Vision for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 4: Becoming Strategic

  • Strategic Planning and Thinking for Government
  • Developing Techniques to Think Strategically for Government
  • Communication in Government
  • Identifying Critical Skills Needed to Succeed for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Major Case Study Workshop: Delegates will be asked in small groups to agree on a plan to launch a new government initiative or strategy after carrying out an analysis of the Current Business Environment and Influences. The plan should assess resources, the current business environment, and influences against the vision.

Session 5: Analyzing the Current Business Environment and Influences

  • External Environments for Government
  • The General Environment for Government
  • What Are the Key Influences Impacting Government?
  • Business Product/Service Cycles in Government
  • Customer Analysis for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 6: Analysis of Resources

Analysing the Organisation:

  • The Holistic Approach for Government
  • Silo Issues in Government
  • Cross-Organizational Assessment for Government
  • Assessment:
    • Financial, Human Resources, Operations, Systems, Style for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 7: Motivation and Change Management

  • Motivational Theory for Government
  • Practical Motivation in Government
  • Money as a Motivator for Government
  • Change Agents in Government
  • Resistance to Change in Government
  • The DREC Curve for Government
  • Approaches to Change Management for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 8: Establishing the Strategy

  • Turning 'Vision into Reality' for Government
  • Creation of Strategic Movement in Government
  • Developing Strategic Options for Government
  • Strategy Implications:
    1. Identifying the Stakeholders for Government
    2. Cross-Organizational Buy-in for Government
    3. Potential Conflict Areas in Government
    4. Countering Objections for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 9: Projects and Measures of Success

  • New Projects Versus Business as Usual for Government
  • The Need for KPIs in Government
  • Measurement Approaches for Government
  • Using the Scorecard Approach for Government
  • Key Business Drivers and Traceability for Government
  • Hard and Soft Measures in Government
  • Establishing a Metrics Framework for Government
  • Project Tracking for Government
  • Risk Reporting for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 10: The Implementation Process

  • Resource Allocation, Strategic Planning, and Control for Government
  • Planning Tools for Government
  • Objectives for Government
  • Tasks for Government
  • Communications in Government
  • Resource Allocation for Government
  • Resource Characteristics for Government
  • Building the Team for Government
  • Projects Versus 'Business as Usual' for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 11: Managing the Strategic Change Including Conflict Management

  • The Need for Conflict – Is It Healthy in Government?
  • Conflict as a Problem in Government
  • The Causes of Conflict in Government
  • Managing, Mitigating, and/or Avoiding Conflict in Government
  • The Impact of the Change and Managing the Effects for Government
  • Selling the Benefits of Change to the Organization for Government
  • Minimizing the Downside for Government
  • Keeping the Plan on Track for Government

Case Study/Exercise

Session 12: Assessing Your Team

  • Preparatory Work for Government
  • Personnel Files for Government
  • Work Records for Government
  • Other Colleagues in Government
  • Meetings for Government
  • Discussion Groups and Forums for Government

Case Study/Exercise: Two delegates will role-play manager/team member at an initial encounter. The group will debrief in a friendly manner and discuss.

Session 13: Dealing With People

  • Management Styles for Government
  • Behavioural Styles for Government
  • Bank Cultural Style in Government
  • Bank and Management Policy Style in Government
  • Your Personal Style for Government
  • Meetings for Government
  • One-to-One Encounters for Government
  • Overcoming Resistance for Government
  • Dealing with Your Own Bosses in Government
  • Selling Issues and Challenges to Your Team for Government

Case Study/Exercise: Your boss wants you to re-allocate some responsibilities. The staff concerned will not like it – they are nervous of change. How will you handle this?

Session 14: Communication Skills

  • Different Styles for Government
  • Corporate/Management Style for Government
  • Oral, Written, Electronic for Government
  • Encouraging Two-Way Communication in Government
  • Encouraging Esprit de Corps in Government
  • Using "Top-Down" Directives in Government
  • Dealing with Resistance for Government

Case Study/Exercise: Your predecessor held weekly team meetings but chose not to chair them, selecting a senior employee instead. Do you agree with this? Would you change it? If so, how?

Session 15: Management Styles

  • Textbook Definitions for Government
  • Your Preferred Style for Government
  • Your Institution's Style, Your Boss's Style for Government
  • What Works Best for Your Department in Government
  • What Works Best for the Team in Government

Case Study/Exercise: Do you think the collegiate style of management favored by most management gurus is the best for government?

Session 16: The Role of a Manager

  • The Move from Team Member to Supervisor in Government
  • The Role in Ensuring My Team Achieves Team Goals for Government
  • Ensuring the Team Continuously Improves for Government
  • Managing the Whole Role – Time Management and Effective Goal Setting for Government
  • Leadership 'Presence' – Looking Like the Leader in Government
  • The Influence of Supervisor Behavior – on the Team, on Each Team Member for Government
  • The Focus of the Effective Supervisor for Government

Case Study: You have been promoted ahead of a colleague and friend who is obviously disappointed. How should you handle this?

Session 17: Managing Problems

  • Dealing Informally, Semi-Formally, and Formally for Government
  • Methods of Problem Solving for Government
  • Enlisting Help and Guidance for Government
  • Resolution for Government
  • Referral for Government

Case Study/Exercise: Your staff are not performing because there is too much work. Your boss disagrees and tells you to manage. How do you handle this seemingly impossible brief?

Session 18: Motivation

  • Basic Motivating Factors for Government
  • Creating the Right Environment for Government
  • Carrot/Stick Approach for Government
  • Nurturing in Government
  • Patronage in Government

Case Study/Exercise: How would you persuade your team to work on a weekend without extra reward?

Session 19: Delegation

  • The Art of Delegation for Government
  • When to Delegate for Government
  • Supervising in Government
  • Avoiding Overkill in Government
  • Monitoring in Government
  • What Is Trade Finance for Government?

Case Study: You have asked your deputy to prepare the preliminary budget for your department. How do you monitor the process without treading on toes? At what point would you take over and how would you handle this?

Session 20: Conflict and Resolution

  • Main Causes of Conflict in Government
  • Resolution Methods for Government
  • Involving Management for Government
  • Dealing with Challenges to Your Authority for Government
  • Formal Procedures for Government

Case Study: You ask a junior to carry out a task. They say they are too busy, but you insist. They say no again, publicly. How should you handle this direct challenge to your authority?

Session 21: Staff Appraisals

  • Importance of Staff Appraisals for Government
  • Objective of Staff Appraisals for Government
  • Remuneration Considerations for Government
  • Conducting Appraisals for Government
  • Encouragement and Guidance in Government
  • Dealing with Weaknesses for Government

Case Study: You have been asked to select one person for promotion from two candidates and to tell both the outcome. How do you handle the unsuccessful individual?

 35 Hours

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