Strategic Planning and Project Delivery Course

Lesson 1 • What Strategic Planning Means

Defines strategic planning and distinguishes it from operational planning. Establishes shared vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • The Strategic Planning Cycle

Introduces the iterative phases of a planning cycle from assessment to review. Shows how each phase feeds the next.

Lesson 3 • Organisational Context and Mission

Examines how mission, vision, and values shape strategic direction. Connects organisational identity to planning decisions.

Lesson 1 • Stakeholder and Competitor Mapping

Identifies key stakeholders and competitors and assesses their influence on strategy. Outputs feed directly into goal-setting and risk planning.

Lesson 2 • Translating Analysis into Strategic Priorities

Converts analytical outputs into ranked strategic priorities ready for goal-setting. Bridges the gap between insight and actionable direction.

Lesson 3 • SWOT and Integrated Analysis

Synthesises external and internal findings into a SWOT matrix and strategic options. Teaches rigorous interpretation beyond surface-level listing.

Lesson 4 • External Environment Scanning

Covers macro-level forces that affect organisational strategy using structured scanning frameworks. Builds the habit of systematic environmental monitoring.

Lesson 1 • Balancing Competing Priorities

Addresses trade-offs when multiple strategic goals compete for limited resources. Equips planners to make and defend prioritisation decisions.

Lesson 2 • Cascading Goals Across the Organisation

Shows how enterprise-level goals break into divisional and team objectives. Ensures vertical alignment from board to project team.

Lesson 3 • Strategic Objectives and Key Results

Introduces the OKR framework as a tool for linking ambition to measurable results. Demonstrates how OKRs connect strategy to team-level work.

Lesson 1 • Project Charter and Governance Setup

Formalises project authority, roles, and reporting through a project charter. Establishes governance structures that support delivery accountability.

Lesson 2 • Building a Compelling Business Case

Structures a business case that justifies investment through benefits, costs, and risks. Teaches persuasive yet evidence-based case construction.

Lesson 3 • Defining Project Scope and Objectives

Establishes clear project boundaries and success criteria at initiation. Reduces scope creep and misaligned expectations from the start.

Lesson 4 • Identifying and Selecting Projects Strategically

Applies strategic criteria to filter and select projects from a pool of candidates. Prevents resource waste on low-alignment initiatives.

Lesson 1 • Estimating Duration and Effort

Applies estimation techniques to assign realistic durations and effort to tasks. Accurate estimates underpin credible schedules and budgets.

Lesson 2 • Work Breakdown Structure Development

Decomposes project scope into manageable work packages using a WBS. Provides the structural foundation for all subsequent planning.

Lesson 3 • Baseline Setting and Plan Approval

Finalises and formally approves the project baseline for scope, schedule, and cost. The approved baseline becomes the reference for all performance measurement.

Lesson 4 • Sequencing and Dependency Mapping

Identifies task dependencies and sequences work to optimise flow. Prevents scheduling conflicts and bottlenecks before execution begins.

Lesson 1 • Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Analysis

Assesses risk probability and impact using both qualitative matrices and quantitative models. Enables prioritisation of risks that warrant active management.

Lesson 2 • Risk Identification Techniques

Uses structured methods to surface threats and opportunities before they materialise. Comprehensive identification is the foundation of effective risk management.

Lesson 3 • Risk Response Planning

Develops targeted responses for high-priority risks using avoid, transfer, mitigate, and accept strategies. Responses are assigned owners and integrated into the project plan.

Lesson 4 • Risk Monitoring and Escalation

Establishes ongoing risk review processes and clear escalation triggers. Keeps risk management active rather than a one-time planning exercise.

Lesson 1 • Corrective and Preventive Actions

Diagnoses root causes of variances and implements targeted corrective actions. Preventive actions reduce the likelihood of recurring problems.

Lesson 2 • Directing and Managing Project Work

Covers the day-to-day leadership of project execution against the approved plan. Establishes routines that maintain team focus and momentum.

Lesson 3 • Change Control and Scope Management

Implements a formal change control process to evaluate and approve scope changes. Protects the baseline while accommodating legitimate project evolution.

Lesson 4 • Performance Measurement and Earned Value

Uses earned value management to measure schedule and cost performance objectively. Provides early warning of variances before they become critical.

Lesson 1 • Strategic Performance Review

Evaluates whether the completed project advanced the organisation's strategic objectives. Feeds findings back into the next planning cycle.

Lesson 2 • Continuous Improvement in Planning and Delivery

Embeds a culture of continuous improvement across planning and delivery processes. Graduates leave with a framework for ongoing professional and organisational growth.

Lesson 3 • Lessons Learned and Knowledge Transfer

Captures and disseminates project insights to improve future planning and delivery. Converts experience into organisational intellectual capital.

Lesson 4 • Benefits Realisation and Measurement

Tracks whether promised benefits are actually delivered after project completion. Links delivery outcomes directly to the strategic objectives that justified the project.