Strategic Thinking

The Course

Strategic Thinking (ST) is an intensive, five and a half day course designed to provide senior executives (both uniformed and civilian) with the skills needed to successfully navigate the complex strategic issues confronting them at enterprise and global levels. The concept, Strategic Thinking, focuses on finding and developing unique opportunities to create value by enabling a provocative and creative dialogue among people who can affect an organization's direction. Strategic Thinking is distinct from Strategic Planning and Management. The critical strategic question is not "What?" but "Why?" The role of strategic thinking is to achieve that higher order frame of mind that imagines new and different futures that may lead the organization to redefine its core strategies. NEDP-ST provides a collaborative, engaging environment for participants to examine a wide range of issues and learn new skills in topics ranging from cost/resource constraints/management, process transformation, human capital, to diversity, information technology and strategic execution. The course curricula aligns with the NEDP core learning objectives with the ultimate goal of developing Corporate Citizenship while breaking down Cultural Barriers:

The Faculty

Academic experts are joined by senior executives from both Navy and the private sector to provide participants with a range of perspectives through which course objectives are addressed. ST brings participants together with Navy's most senior leaders for opportunities to discuss policy and strategy issues that impact their commands. Private sector executives and prominent acknowledged thought leaders share their insights on established and emerging business trends and best practices that may have application in participants' organizations.

Development Topics

Leading Change, Maximizing Human Capital, Leveraging Diversity, Strategic Scene-Setting/Execution, Building and Fostering Collaborative Relations and Trust.

The Location

The Strategic Thinking course is conducted at the Kenan-Flagler School on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Who Should Attend?

The ST course is designed for 1- or 2- star flag officers.

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