A.- OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY

• To enhance the strategic thinking behavior

• To develop an understanding of the strategic planning process and the role of the participants’ work unit in this plan

• To strengthen the individual's planning and futuristic thinking

• To assess the status of participants’ work units in terms of planning and strategic thinking

• To recognize the importance of creativity in strategic thinking

• To create an awareness of the impact of Positive Attitudes on strategic thinking

• To develop/simulate a strategic plan for the work unit

B.- DURATION AND MATERIALS

• Two non-consecutive days of workshop and facilitation sessions.

C.- PROCESS: This program is geared to develop the participants into being more visionary and to develop action plans for threats and opportunities. Management Resources (MRI) believes, and our experience has confirmed, that to change behavior, in this case to start displaying strategic thinking qualities, requires more than teaching the skills. The Strategic Thinking program includes developing or simulating a strategic plan, facilitation, tests, putting the skills to work (which requires meeting on non-consecutive days), and exercises which provide in the participants:

1. a corporate strategic thinking process
2. an awareness of the obstacles, opportunities and key issues facing the organization
3. the ability and motivation to go beyond their daily duties in looking for new opportunities.
4. an open-minded mentality based on looking at the "big picture"
5. an understanding of critical goal categories, what they are and how to develop them
6. an understanding of what it means to be a customer driven organization
7. an awareness of the "next in process" customer
8. the basis to build integrity, values, and teamwork into the culture

1. General assessment of planning at participants’ work unit
2. Two workshop sessions of 8 hours each, designed to allow for the practical application of the material studied during the week
3. Homework prior to the sessions, including listening to audio tapes at least five times a week. Repetition results in retention. 62% of an idea presented six times in a period of a week is retained after 15 years
4. Group exercises to stimulate the strategic thinking process
5. Establishment of goals-- individual and/or departmental
6. Development of a plan for the work unit or simulation of a plan, as appropriate
7. Management feedback sessions throughout the program
8. Two follow-up sessions