Strategic Implementation and Alignment

Course Description

This course emphasizes how managers lead the implementation of plans to get the job done. Topics include implementation and execution of plans; managing the organization as a portfolio of businesses; cross-functional reviews and coordination of operating strategies; ensuring strategic alignment of business unit objectives with organizational objectives; alignment of business unit tactics, infrastructure, and processes to strategic imperatives; adapting stakeholder relationships to changing strategic priorities; and best practices in project management.

Topics and Objectives

Components of Implementing Strategy

• Differentiate corporate strategy from project management.
• Identify the implications of organizational culture on project structure.
• Define the elements of a project.
• Define end-state goals for project implementation.

Best Practices in Strategic Implementation

• Compare and contrast approaches to developing the project network.
• Evaluate the need for free slack in a project.
• Evaluate the components of a risk management process.

Developing the Implementation Plan

• Develop an approach for estimating project time and cost.
• Develop a resource scheduling process.
• Analyze the implementation planning process.

Key Concepts of Project Management

• Evaluate the project control process.
• Explain the need for an integrated information system.
• Identify project management control issues.

Alternative Solutions to Project Management Problems

• Evaluate the need for leadership in project management.
• Assess the challenges of developing high-performance project teams.
• Compare and contrast face-to-face and virtual project teams.

Critical Analysis of Project Management Solutions

• Create a plan to reduce project duration.
• Design a project closure approach.