Strategy Development and Implementation first focuses on defining strategy, looking at the process of strategy formulation, and describing the role of senior management within that process. It instructs how to craft vision and mission statements, how to identify and manage external strategic influences, and includes discussion on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The course examines methods for appraising the effects of the external environment on an organization’s overall position. Consequently, it also looks at key strategic issues that organizations must consider with regard to their internal environment. The course investigates an organization’s position, forecasting, strategic planning, and decision making processes. It also discusses methods of identifying strategic options and deploying strategic analysis to enable an organization to best achieve its objectives.

The course then switches focus to discussion on creating operational performance measures that effectively gauge progress toward strategic goals. It examines the strategic and competitive impact of information systems (IS) and the impact of the internet on organizations through looking at e-business and the strategic use and competitive benefits of information and knowledge management systems. It goes on to analyze the power of customer and suppliers, methods of interaction with them, and various means of determining their value. The course concludes with discussion on the classification of types of change an organization can encounter, and how such entities can cope with the effects of change.