Assessing organisational strengths

Topics in this module

1. 01

   Stakeholders, alignment and power

   Identify stakeholder needs, assess alignment and power, and choose engagement methods that support responsible strategy and performance.

   7 sections · 8 min read

   1 video1 PDF3 images

   See the topics covered

   1. Stakeholders and the internal environment
   2. Identify needs before assigning priorities
   3. Alignment, conflict and strategic choices
   4. Power and interest are different dimensions
   5. Choose a genuine engagement method
   6. Leadership, accountability and review
   7. Sources and further reading
2. 02

   Performance evidence and data analytics

   Assess current performance using reliable data, meaningful comparisons and analytics that connect business drivers with practical decisions.

   10 sections · 10 min read

   1 video1 PDF3 images

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   1. Define what successful performance means
   2. Connect results with their drivers
   3. Establish a fair comparison
   4. Collect relevant data and control its quality
   5. Combine and analyse the evidence
   6. Test explanations rather than assume causation
   7. Turn analytical insight into a decision
   8. Communicate findings so people can act
   9. Leadership, finance and an evidence-based culture
   10. Sources and further reading
3. 03

   Strategic drivers, portfolios and competitive strategy

   Analyse markets, customers, offerings and channels, use the BCG portfolio framework, and connect competitive strategy with activities and investment.

   9 sections · 11 min read

   2 videos2 PDFs6 images

   See the topics covered

   1. Strategic drivers: where performance comes from
   2. Customer, product and channel economics
   3. The BCG growth-share framework
   4. Reading a portfolio without mechanical decisions
   5. Porter's generic competitive strategies
   6. Differentiation and low cost: identify the mechanism
   7. Value-chain activities and strategic fit
   8. Innovation and strategic leadership
   9. Sources and further reading
4. 04

   Performance measures, scorecards and learning

   Select useful performance measures, interpret benchmarks and build a balanced scorecard that links strategy, operational drivers and learning.

   9 sections · 11 min read

   2 videos2 PDFs6 images

   See the topics covered

   1. Operational drivers and organisational purpose
   2. Inputs, outputs, outcomes and other measures
   3. Characteristics of useful measures
   4. Benchmarks and trends
   5. The balanced scorecard's four perspectives
   6. Link objectives and test the strategic hypothesis
   7. Objectives, measures, targets and initiatives
   8. Review, learn and act
   9. Sources and further reading
5. 05

   Resources, capabilities and defensible advantage

   Learn how people, knowledge, resources and capabilities support strategy, and test whether an advantage can withstand imitation and change.

   10 sections · 12 min read

   2 videos2 PDFs6 images

   See the topics covered

   1. Resources and capabilities: the essential distinction
   2. Build a resource inventory
   3. Intellectual property and other intangible strengths
   4. People, values and organisational conditions
   5. Knowledge, learning and innovation
   6. Map capabilities across the organisation
   7. Develop or obtain the capability needed
   8. Test whether an advantage is defensible
   9. Benchmark, renew and retest
   10. Sources and further reading
6. 06

   SWOT, strategic gaps and leadership implications

   Combine internal and external evidence in SWOT, identify strategic gaps, and turn priorities into realistic actions, responsibilities and reviews.

   8 sections · 8 min read

   2 videos2 PDFs6 images

   See the topics covered

   1. SWOT brings the analysis together
   2. Make each finding specific and useful
   3. Turn SWOT findings into options
   4. Strategic gaps compare a future target with a future baseline
   5. Look beyond one performance number
   6. Investigate causes and choose proportionate responses
   7. Convert findings into accountable action
   8. Sources and further reading
7. 

   Module 3 — Quizzes

   Choose a practice quiz to review your understanding, then explore explanations and your results.

   Practice quiz · Review your understanding