Strategic Thinking and Action focuses on strategic thinking for competitive response in a world of uncertainty and constant industry transformation. Particular attention is given to competing effectively in today’s connected world. Throughout the program, the themes are applied to firms in a variety of industries that face growth and profit pressures, and run the risk of being challenged or threatened by new competitors with evolving business models.

Participants will explore contemporary strategic concepts and the foundations of breakthrough policies, and will return to the workplace with a strengthened understanding of the essential conceptual elements of strategy and an enhanced comprehension of the importance of strategic action in business.

• Executives responsible for creating the strategic processes for their firms.
• Executives concerned with the confluence of strategy, uncertainty, online/offline integration, and economic volatility.
• Sales or functional managers who wish to see how their roles relate to others in a top-level view of business strategy.

Participants will:

• Become familiar with core concepts and frameworks that will contribute to strategy making.
• Evaluate their own businesses relative to new organizational models and online threats.
• Explore theories associated with successful business endurance.

• Building Organizational Capabilities for Competitive Advantage
• Business Growth and Sustainability
• Creating and Capturing Value Across the Value Chain
• Developing Strategies for Corporate Transformation and Growth
• Industry and Competition Analysis in a Global Context
• Strategy as an Option; Strategy as Commitment
• Understanding Successful Firms and Strategies

• Chief of Staff
• Director, Technology Planning
• Engineering Manager
• Chief Administrative and Financial Officer
• Executive Vice President, Insurance Operations
• Manager, Human Resources Administration
• Manager of Business Planning
• Sales Director

Samuel E. Bodily
John Tyler Professor of Business Administration, The Darden School, University of Virginia.

L. J. Bourgeois III
Paul M. Hammaker Research Professor of Business Administration and Director of the Tayloe Murphy Center, The Darden School, University of Virginia.

S. Venkataraman
MasterCard Professor of Business Administration and Research Director, The Batten Institute, The Darden School, University of Virginia.