Aligning Strategy, Leadership, and Culture: Keys to Competitive Advantage

Aligning Strategy, Leadership, and Culture prepares you to view your organization as a strategic entity driven by an articulated strategic direction. You will acquire a big-picture view of your organization and your role in it.  You will learn how to establish a common sense of focus and purpose that drives commitment, cooperation, and performance. You will learn to think in the mindset of your superiors, better understand their perspective, and be able to anticipate and deliver in the manner most useful to your organization. Specifically, the program prepares you to:

• Critically assess and respond to the changing environment and marketplace
•  Build capability through global networks of employees, partners, and suppliers
• Communicate, motivate, and empower talent to drive implementation
  

This program uses an assessment tool exclusive to Penn State that will help you better understand your current organizational and personal leadership environment.  A business simulation exercise is also included, as well as the opportunity to have individual coaching sessions on your leadership style and personal effectiveness. 

This program is designed for those charged with creating and implementing business strategy, organizational capability, and talent development. Past participants have been senior managers or directors in large companies; and senior managers thru VP-level in small companies.  Middle to upper-middle level general or functional managers in large companies will benefit also. The participant may or may not have direct reports but is in a position of strategic influence in the enterprise or business unit. 

Note to Government Professionals:  This program fulfills much of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) required for Senior Executive Service.

Aligning Strategy, Leadership, and Culture prepares you to effectively deal with the multi-faceted complexities of leading today’s organizations. Faculty leaders will have you step back and take a global view of your job where you will confront the broad shifts impacting the business. Then you will break down your role into components of strategic, interpersonal, and execution. You will acquire the self-awareness to understand personal motivation and how to engage and impact others. Personal growth is achieved as you develop the insight to lead with integrity and in harmony with your personal values.
Specifically, you will be equipped to:

• Develop a strategy and align the organization to perform
• Uncover and capitalize on emerging market and
  business opportunities
• Grow and develop core capabilities and operational focus to compete in ever-changing markets
• Assess your organizational culture and the propensity
  for change
• Use organizational culture  to positively affect performance and behavior in others
• Implement best processes for leading change
• Create high-performing teams
• Strengthen your leadership effectiveness

Strategic Leadership

        Assessing the external environment

        Setting direction for your organization

        Managing cycles of change

        Enhancing leadership effectiveness

        Encouraging flexibility and creativity

Enhancing People Systems

        Leadership roles and responsibilities

        Team-building methods and procedures

        Building motivation and reward systems

Implementing Change

        Enacting organizational models in a global environment

        Assessing organizational vision

        Translating strategic intent into action

“Without hesitation, the most thorough and useful presentation of leadership material of any executive seminar I have attended.  I would wholeheartedly recommend all leaders and aspiring leaders attend.  The entire Penn State experience was outstanding!”

 —Bruce Berinato, Associater Director for Contracting,
U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command
Armament Research Development and Engineering Center

Research Instrument - Through a unique assessment tool that uses data provided by your colleagues, you receive candid, objective assessment of your current organizational and leadership environment.  The Strategy, Leadership, Culture Questionnaire (SLQC) is a simple but powerful process that measures 18 critical dimensions of organizational effectiveness.  Feedback from the instrument and coaching by the faculty provide important personal and organizational insight that, when combined with new perspectives and tools, form the basis of real change. Learn more here.

Simulation - The Strategic Management Game is a computer-based business simulation that gives you the opportunity to operate a company in a competitive environment. Simulation is a powerful method to give hands-on practice with the program concepts, fact-based analysis and teamwork. You’ll work in groups to assess marketplace needs, develop a market strategy, determine operational plans to implement the strategy, and interpret feedback on the success of your decisions both in terms of market share and financial results.

Action Plan – Throughout the program, you will assimilate all you’ve learned from faculty,  combined with networking dialogue, and prepare the beginning of an actionable plan that will enable you to have a conversation with your boss and other stakeholders about direction and strategic imperatives. Following the program, you will continue to have access to your networks of fellow participants and faculty to maintain the momentum for change.

Faculty Director

Dr. Virginia M. Tucker, Associate Professor of Business and Senior Executive Education Consultant, The Smeal College of Business, Penn State.

Faculty Leaders

Dr. Albert A. Vicere, Executive Education Professor of Strategic Leadership, The Smeal College of Business, Penn State

Dr. Craig M. McAllaster, Professor of Management and Dean of the Crummer School, Rollins College

Executive Management Program provides a framework for making strategic decisions that impact the organization. It holistically integrates the knowledge, vision, and processes required of a senior executive to set business objectives and achieve results. 

Developing Managerial Effectiveness develops a broad organizational perspective for middle managers charged with setting and implementing business plans that look beyond the confines of the department. 

Executive Program for Women Leaders provides essential beliefs, behaviors, and techniques that result in greater visibility as well as overall confidence and competence as business leaders.

The Enterprise Technology Strategist: Aligning IT & Business Strategies delves into all aspects of IT and organizational alignment—from strategy and infrastructure issues to those surrounding external alliances and partnerships.