Implementing Strategy

Putting strategy into practice effectively

About the programme

In partnership with Blenheim Palace, Oxford Brookes Business School is pleased to launch our Implementing Strategy business programme. Using our expertise from our world-class MBA programme, participants will gain insights into how to ensure that organisational strategy is effectively implemented and successfully executed. 

This intensive face-to-face course providers a blend of practical yet intellectually rigorous interactive tutor-led sessions that include case studies, team challenges, guest speakers and discussions. 

Participants will come away with enhanced strategic knowledge and skills, as well as actionable concepts for their own organisation.

Programme information

Business leaders are anxious about the challenges facing their businesses over the next period of time.

Having formulated a great strategy, how can you make sure that it is put into practice and leads to the desired business results? And in an increasingly volatile and ambiguous operating environment, how do you also take advantage of the opportunities caused by this turbulence?

In this course the tutors will challenge you to think and act differently, using a mix of thought-provoking academic perspectives, stimulating case studies and practical exercises. Participants will progressively develop a personalised ‘playbook’ of insights, skills and interventions that will help enhance their organisation's ability to successfully execute strategies in an environment that is increasingly fraught with uncertainty. The emphasis is categorically on creating practical deliverables, grounded in solid understanding of the issues in the context of your organisation.

Key elements feeding into the playbook

  • A rigorous understanding of the nature and foundations of the specific strategies, strategic planning processes and competitive environment that participants are engaged with. This provides a basis for appreciating how each strategy is best executed and what resources and capabilities will enhance the ability to successfully execute such strategies.
  • An exploration of reasons why strategic change programmes often fail; how these apply to the participants’ organisations; and how identified causes of failure could be addressed.
  • A range of perspectives on effecting innovation and change in relation to strategic plans.
  • Digital adoption as a core element of contemporary strategy execution.
  • Dealing with strategic contradictions to create resilient, sustainable organisations.

Throughout the week there will be scope to explore in more detail any topics that emerge as being of particular interest to the cohort. 

Course tutors

Dr. Diana Limburg
Dr. Diana Limburg

Digital, Innovation, Performance Management

Diana is Director of the Brookes Global MBA Programme, as well as an experienced researcher, tutor and consultant. Her expertise is in the area of Digital Technology, in particular its application for understanding and improving business performance. She has worked with SMEs and charities in research and knowledge transfer projects, often using systems thinking methods. 

Dr. Paul Jackson
Dr. Paul Jackson

Digital Strategy, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence

Paul has some 30 years’ experience, inside and outside academia, in understanding and managing innovation - especially where it involves digital technologies. He is particularly interested in how businesses develop and implement strategies for change, including the creation of new business ventures.

Dr. Surja Datta
Dr. Surja Datta

Strategy, Innovation, business history

Surja is a Senior Lecturer, and Module Leader of Global Strategy under Uncertainty. Surja has published extensively including books, book chapters, and journal articles. His research interests include business history, innovation, and creativity. He has earlier been involved in a European Commission project that developed business and innovation models for environment monitoring services in Europe. Surja's research interests are strategy, innovation, and business history. He is also the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development. 

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

Business Development, Innovation, Enterprise Growth

Peter is an experienced consultant, business development manager and facilitator. An innovation, strategy and technology management specialist, he has over 20 years of experience in supporting enterprise growth. He typically helps clients with change projects and new product development.

Feedback

“I found the chance to learn concepts, apply them to our own experience and then get feedback from peers on the result useful. I learnt some valuable skills to allow me to analyse the strategic issues in my own organisation, propose changes and manage the change.”

“Oxford Brookes have been a great partner in both upgrading our individual and organisation-wide skills and in measuring the progress we have made with our long term goals – we are very excited about this new programme which will significantly upgrade our strategic execution skills.”

Dominic Hare,​ Chief Executive Officer, Blenheim Palace

Contact us

OBBS Business & External Engagement

+44 (0) 1865 534800 (OBBS Reception > Option 4 > Option 1)

obbs-bee@brookes.ac.uk