A strategy only creates value when priorities become decisions, resources, ownership, operating rhythms, and measurable action. This course helps leaders connect strategic planning with the execution systems needed to move work forward.

Course Overview

The Strategic Planning and Execution program equips senior managers, directors, and leadership teams with the frameworks and practical tools to develop clear organizational strategies and, critically, to build the execution systems that turn strategy into measurable results. The program covers environmental analysis, strategic choice, objective setting, execution architecture, performance tracking, and the leadership behaviors that determine whether strategy succeeds or stalls.

It is equally relevant for leaders building organizational strategy from scratch and those who have inherited a strategy that is not being executed effectively. Every module is grounded in real organizational scenarios, not textbook frameworks applied in a vacuum.

Available as an instructor-led classroom course in classroom cohorts when public dates are confirmed, as a fully live online program, and as a customized in-house program. Every format is live and interactive. There are no pre-recorded sessions.

Course decision snapshot

Is this the right development fit?

Live, instructor-led and adaptable to context

Best fit

Managers and leaders responsible for translating strategic priorities into coordinated execution

Delivery

Live classroom, live online, or private in-house delivery

Built around

Strategic diagnosis, choices, priorities, ownership, measures and execution rhythm

Take back to work

A practical bridge from strategy discussion to accountable implementation

Who Delivers This Program

Programs are delivered by subject-matter practitioners selected for relevance to the topic, audience level, and delivery context. For private and in-house cohorts, facilitator matching considers the organization’s industry and participant profile. A facilitator biography can be provided when a cohort is confirmed.

How We Make This Relevant to You Specifically

Our standard design process uses a short pre-course profile covering each participant’s role, industry, current challenges, and objectives. Facilitators use those profiles to calibrate examples, discussion, and exercises to the people in the room. For in-house programs, organizational priorities are also reviewed with the program sponsor before delivery.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this program, you will be able to:

Conduct a rigorous strategic analysis
Apply PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces, and internal capability analysis to develop a clear picture of your strategic position.

Define strategic direction with clarity
Develop a compelling vision, mission, and set of strategic priorities that your organization can actually rally behind.

Build an execution architecture
Translate strategy into operational plans, initiatives, resource allocation, and accountability structures that drive delivery.

Set and cascade strategic objectives
Use OKRs and balanced scorecard frameworks to connect organizational strategy to team and individual action.

Monitor and adapt strategy in real time
Design performance tracking systems that surface problems early and enable rapid strategic adjustment.

Lead strategy execution as a senior leader
Build the leadership behaviors, communication practices, and governance structures that make execution a cultural reality.

Manage strategic risk and uncertainty
Identify the assumptions your strategy depends on, stress-test them, and build contingency into your planning process.

Communicate strategy compellingly
Present strategic direction to boards, senior leadership, and frontline teams in a way that builds understanding and commitment.

Framework at a glance

The strategy-to-execution chain

DiagnoseDefine the strategic issue before jumping to initiatives.

ChooseMake explicit priorities, trade-offs and ownership decisions.

ExecuteTurn priorities into measures, rhythms and accountable action.

Capability journey

How the learning moves from insight to application

The sequence is adapted to the participant group and delivery context, while keeping the focus on practical application.

Diagnose the real strategic issue

Make explicit choices

Translate choices into priorities

Create an execution rhythm

Course Outline

The program is structured across nine modules covering the full strategic planning and execution lifecycle.

Module 1: What Strategy Is and Why It Fails

The difference between strategy and planning, the most common reasons well-written strategies fail to deliver results, the role of leadership in execution success, and an honest assessment of your organization’s current strategic clarity and execution capability.

Module 2: Strategic Analysis and Environmental Scanning

PESTLE analysis applied to Gulf, African, and international operating environments. Porter’s Five Forces for competitive positioning. Internal capability assessment using VRIO and the value chain. Synthesizing analysis into a clear strategic picture using SWOT and TOWS frameworks.

Module 3: Defining Strategic Direction

Crafting a compelling vision and mission that people can connect to. Identifying and evaluating strategic options. Making strategic choices under uncertainty. The Ansoff matrix, blue ocean thinking, and competitive positioning. Aligning strategic direction to ownership and stakeholder expectations.

Module 4: Strategic Objectives and the Balanced Scorecard

Translating strategic direction into measurable objectives. The Balanced Scorecard: financial, customer, process, and learning perspectives. OKRs as an execution framework. Setting objectives that are ambitious enough to matter and clear enough to measure. Strategy maps and the causal logic of organizational performance.

Module 5: Building the Execution Architecture

Translating objectives into strategic initiatives and operational plans. Resource allocation: aligning budget and headcount to strategic priorities. Governance structures for strategy execution. Portfolio management of strategic initiatives. The role of the PMO in strategy execution.

Module 6: Cascading Strategy Through the Organization

Connecting organizational strategy to divisional, departmental, and individual goals. The strategy cascade: alignment without micromanagement. Communicating strategy to different audiences with different levels of detail. Building line-of-sight from individual work to organizational direction.

Module 7: Performance Tracking and Strategic Reviews

Designing a performance tracking system that surfaces problems before they become crises. Leading vs lagging indicators. Running effective strategic review meetings. Distinguishing between execution problems and strategy problems. When to stay the course and when to adapt.

Module 8: Strategic Risk and Scenario Planning

Identifying the assumptions your strategy depends on. Scenario planning for uncertain environments. Geopolitical, economic, and market risks in Gulf and African contexts. Building strategic resilience without paralysis. The role of strategic agility in long-term organizational survival.

Module 9: Your Strategic Plan and Execution Roadmap

Consolidating all program learning into a structured strategic plan and 90-day execution roadmap for your organization or function. Peer review and coaching. Certificate of completion.

Why Strategy Execution Capability Matters

A strategy only becomes useful when priorities are translated into choices, ownership, measures, resources and a management rhythm that keeps execution visible. This program helps managers connect strategic intent to operating decisions, review progress without creating reporting theatre, and adjust when assumptions change.

Who Should Attend

Senior managers, directors, and department heads responsible for strategic planning and delivery

Leadership teams preparing or refreshing organizational strategy

Strategy, planning, and business development professionals

Government and public sector leaders navigating national transformation agendas

Business owners and entrepreneurs building their first formal strategic plan

Participants from all industries and regions welcome. Particularly relevant for organizations navigating Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia, national development agendas across the Gulf, and growth strategies across African markets. Delivered in English. Arabic delivery available for in-house programs on request.

How We Customize This Program for Your Organization

Your actual strategic situationFor in-house delivery, participants work on your organization’s real strategic challenges throughout the program, leaving with a draft strategic plan rather than a training exercise.

National transformation alignmentFor organizations operating within Vision 2030 or similar national agendas, we align strategic planning frameworks to the specific objectives and reporting requirements of those programs.

Senior leadership team formatThe program can be delivered as a facilitated strategy workshop for an entire leadership team, combining training with actual strategic decision-making in a structured format.

Sector-specific contextAll strategic analysis tools and case studies are applied to the competitive and regulatory environment of your specific industry.

Applied toolkit

What you can take back to work

The emphasis is on usable work products, not notes alone. Exact outputs are adapted to the participant group and delivery context.

TOOL 1

Strategic issue canvas

TOOL 2

Priority decision matrix

TOOL 3

Execution scorecard

TOOL 4

90-day execution roadmap

Need this adapted to your team?

Turn the course into a private capability-building program

We can calibrate the examples, scenarios, emphasis and delivery structure around your participant group, organization and business priorities.

Discuss a Cohort In-House Training

Choose the delivery model

Same capability focus, different delivery context

Program depth, schedule and examples are calibrated to the cohort and delivery environment rather than forced into one universal duration.

🏫

Live ClassroomFacilitated face to face with discussion, practice, peer exchange and applied workshop time.

💻

Live OnlineFully live and instructor-led, with interaction and practice rather than pre-recorded self-study.

🏢

Private / In-HouseAdapted to your organization, participant profile, scenarios, priorities and operational constraints.

Delivery Format

In-Person Classroom

Daily timetable confirmed for each scheduled session
Cohort size confirmed for each scheduled session
Public classroom cohorts when dates are confirmed
Materials and workbook included

Live Online

Live instructor-led, never pre-recorded
Flexible time-zone scheduling
Fully interactive with breakout groups
Same outcomes and certificate as classroom

In-House / Corporate: Delivered for your leadership team anywhere in the world, with your real strategic situation as the working material. Request a proposal.

Pricing

The public-course fees shown below apply to the currently configured offering in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Program length and structure may vary by cohort and delivery context; confirmed session details are shown when dates are scheduled.

Public fees exclude VAT or other applicable taxes.

$3,950

Per delegate
Individual booking

$3,358

Per delegate
3 delegates (15% off)

$3,292

Per delegate
6 delegates (pay for 5)

Fees include all materials, workbook, and certificate. For venues outside the GCC, see the Training Calendar. For in-house delivery, contact us for a proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this program suitable for organizations that already have a strategy in place?

Yes. Many participants attend with an existing strategy that is not being executed effectively. The program is equally valuable for building strategy from scratch and for diagnosing and fixing execution failures in an existing strategy.

Is this relevant for government and public sector organizations?

Yes. The frameworks can be adapted to public-sector governance structures and, where relevant, to national transformation priorities.

What certificate do participants receive?

Every participant receives a TheSkillGrid Certificate of Completion in Strategic Planning and Execution, which can be added to LinkedIn.

Upcoming Dates & Venues

No sessions currently scheduled.
Request course availability with your preferred date, location and group size. We will confirm available public-session and private-team options before any booking or payment.

Strategic Planning and Execution