Classroom/ Online: Yes/ No
Scheduling Date(s):
1) Jul 07 - 08, 2025 (classroom)
2) Oct 30 - 31, 2025 (classroom)
Note: Please click specific date for detailed venue and course fee etc.
Strategic Planning & Critical Thinking for Better Decision Making & Solutions
Almost everything we do in today's public or private (business) world invokes heavy competitive pressure: attracting foreign investments, “customer” habits change, new competitors appear, factors outside your control could delay your project. But we cannot allow ourselves to be paralyzed; we need to think strategically, plan in ways which are execution-able, and make decision as to what actions to take to minimize disruptions to our plans. In the final analysis, company vision is only good when we converge respective units’ efforts and achievements toward the organizational goals.
Objective
- Understand, Decide and Develop the strategic direction & solution;
- Handle the nature of strategy formulation and implementation
- Identify the Company strengths and weaknesses;
- Identify markets and competitions
- Formulate possible strategies
- Formulate a strategic plan for your organisation or department
- Draw up and implement an action plan
- Achieve objectives by linking KPIs, business goals and vision
- Enhance Decision making to arrive at Strategic solutions
- Inculcate a performance work culture
- Use management tools to achieve results by design
- Conduct both external (environmental, industry and competitors) and internal assessments and carry out SWOT analysis
- Choose appropriate strategies to achieve organisation’s objectives
- Implement the strategic plan and measure its performance against the plan
DELIVERABLES
Outline
Day 1
1. Start from the beginning: the Compass – what do we do and why
2. How do we ACHIEVE the vision?
3. Information Seeking Stage
4. Market Analysis on environment
a) Market Matrix – definition, case, commentary, and what can we do
b) Competitive Environment: the 5 Forces – definition, case, commentary, and what can we do
5. Risk Analysis
a) Types of risks
b) Incorporating 6 external factors
c) Is it possible to NOT have surprises?
Day 2
6. Action Stage: Putting it all together
7. Example of Strategic Thinking & Planning: The Value Curve
8. Putting it all together: Execution
9. Workshop: HOW do we measure AND manage what we need to do?
Q&A, Evaluation
1. Start from the beginning: the Compass – what do we do and why
- What is our “business”, and Why do we choose this “business”?
- What is our vision?
2. How do we ACHIEVE the vision?
- Preliminary alignment
3. Information Seeking Stage
- SWOT Analysis: with workshop
4. Market Analysis on environment
a) Market Matrix – definition, case, commentary, and what can we do
b) Competitive Environment: the 5 Forces – definition, case, commentary, and what can we do
5. Risk Analysis
a) Types of risks
b) Incorporating 6 external factors
c) Is it possible to NOT have surprises?
Day 2
6. Action Stage: Putting it all together
- Strategy defined
7. Example of Strategic Thinking & Planning: The Value Curve
- Culturalize and make it a habit
- Workshop on Strategies and Plans: WHAT do we need to do to achieve the vision?
8. Putting it all together: Execution
- Tools to help in execution:
- SMART goals
- Parkinson Principle
9. Workshop: HOW do we measure AND manage what we need to do?
- Converting Vision to Reality
Q&A, Evaluation
Who should attend
Management (up and coming, and established) and above
Methodology
Combination of lecture, with practical/hands on approach such as role plays, case studies, presentation, commentary on other companies/industries, and/or video.
Profile of Andrew Cheah
Mr. Andrew Cheah has been a trainer and management consultant since 1991, specializing in the areas of Strategic Thinking, Leadership Transformation, Lean, QC Tools, VSM, Procurement & Inventory Management, negotiation, 8D Problem Solving, performance management, productivity improvement, behavioral change, and Critical & Creative Thinking. Andrew has trained clients from such diverse industries (see list below) as banking, insurance, hospitality, sales and distribution, manufacturing, food, property development, government/public services, and higher education. Being tri-lingual (English, Mandarin, and Malay Languages), and has extensive regional exposure in Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. In addition to training, Andrew has guided and provided consulting services to clients, leading to one of them winning the prestigious Malaysian National Productivity Award (1999) presented by the 2-time Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir. The award is for productivity enhancement through many areas such as continuous improvement, cost and waste reduction.
In addition to writing articles for the premier English newspaper in Singapore (the Straits Times), Andrew has been invited to speak at events such as International Conference on Best Practices, which was graced by senior officials from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), sharing the stage with Professor Michael Gregory of the University of Cambridge, Mr Dieter Heyl (2007 Vice President of Mercedes Benz Malaysia), and Dr Marcus Chao, President of Lean China Enterprise Inc.
Andrew has an MBA degree qualification with the University of Portsmouth, UK. At the professional level, Andrew has certifications in: Blue Ocean Leadership Masterclass, Leading Dimensions Profiling (LDP), REACH Profiling, and ISO9000 assessor. His experience in international consultancy has also earned him a membership with the Association of Productivity Specialist (New York).
