Overview:
CPA AB is pleased to present The Strategic Management Certificate Program in collaboration with CPA BC. This four-part certificate focuses specifically on the critical components of leadership and strategy, and allows participants to acquire substantive knowledge in these core business topics. At the end of the program, you will have learned about the core competencies to successfully develop teams, enable change management within their organizations, risk assessment and governance best practices, and how to guide strategic planning into implementation through all phases of an organization’s product/service life cycle. The four modules are:
- Strategic Planning
- Risk Management and Governance
- Change Management
- Team Development
Each course can be taken as a stand-alone course, but in order to qualify for the certificate, participants are required to complete all four titles. Titles will be offered across our Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter programs.
Strategic Planning:
This interactive course will use case examples to examine the link between stated organizational goals, the business environment and visible strategies, with focus on the functional strategy level. You will gain an appreciation of the tools used to develop and execute successful strategies. You will also examine the strategies of your own organization relative to the competitive landscape. Exercises will provide opportunities to consider your own role relative to strategy formulation, execution and monitoring, and highlight opportunities to increase personal effectiveness.
Risk Management and Governance:
This interactive course will examine different types of risks which can undermine the achievement of an organization’s objectives, and the management approaches and tools used to manage them. You will examine the risk management policies, practices, and reporting used by leading organizations, assess your organization’s approach to risk and consider your own role in this process. We will also overview director and board responsibilities and take an in-depth look at governance practices, with focus on not for profits, where many CPAs serve as volunteer directors. You will gain an appreciation of how these requirements link to your own role. This session is a must for members considering serving as directors, now or in the future.
Change Management:
Why do most change initiatives fail? And why are some organizations good at ‘change’? In a world where change is an imperative, this interactive session will focus on how organizations can improve the odds and how your leadership can support successful change. You will learn how organizational and human dynamics impact change initiatives, how to plan for change and will examine the main ingredients necessary for successful implementation. You will increase your understanding of reasons for resistance and how to win support. Interactive exercises will provide practice in change planning and implementation, and case studies will enhance your understanding of the ‘art’ of change.
Team Development:
Today’s complex problems require the skills of diverse teams, and effective team performance is essential to success. This interactive course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of factors impacting team effectiveness, including team design, stages of team development, and ingredients necessary for achieving results. Through experiential exercises, you will gain a greater appreciation of how team norms, internal team factors and communication patterns can enhance or hinder team performance and to understand the characteristics of successful teams. Small group and individual work will provide an opportunity to sharpen your teaming skills, to consider how personalities and your own personal style impact on team performance, and how you can support a team as a leader.
