Training on strategic planning in the public sector addresses the growing emphasis on project outcomes, value for money, and the changing relationship between public and private institutions. The course aims to equip public sector organizations with the tools and techniques developed in the private sector to strategically plan for their future. 

Participants can expect a highly participative training course that covers setting strategic objectives, planning programmes and projects, evaluating outcomes of strategic decisions, and integrating strategic and operational activities for high-level performance in economic, social, and business development. The course will also emphasize measuring economic and business impact to ensure quality operational outputs and strategic outcomes. It aims to provide participants with a solid "road map" for confidently basing the future of their organizations.

 Training Objectives 

• Achieve targets and performance standards during periods of change
• Apply the most effective approaches to strategy formulation
• Build strong public-private relationships in development activities
• Combine and leverage analytical and creative thinking
• Develop skills in project specification and scheduling
• Gain commitment of their teams to the process of strategic development
• Know how to apply the main analytical tools and techniques
• Understand the meaning and impact of strategic thinking

Who Should Attend?

• Programme Managers in Economic Development
• Urban Spatial Planners
• Major Project Managers
• Financial Planning and Forecasting Specialists
• Scientific and Technological Policymakers
• Internal Auditors and Management Accountants

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Day 1 : Definition of Strategy in The Public Sector

• What is strategy and why is it important?
• The alternative approaches to strategic thinking
• The question of complexity, resources and choices
• The unique aspects of strategy in the public sector
• Financial and non-financial dimensions of public sector strategy
• How to build an effective strategic planning team
• Case example or case study

Day 2 : Strategic Analysis in a Public Sector Context

• Learning from best practice in the private and public sectors
• Introducing a strategic mindset into public sector activities
• Managing internal and external relationships in strategy development
• Risk analysis – what are the right risks to take?
• Risk management – how can we minimise the risks that we face?
• Securing the cohesion of strategic programmes and projects
• Case example or case study

Day 3 : Specifics of Strategy Formulation in the Public Sector

• Setting priorities in public sector strategy – economic development
• Setting priorities in public sector strategy – social development
• Setting priorities in public sector strategy – science and technology development
• Leveraging the unique capabilities and resources of the public sector
• Identifying and managing the expectations of different stakeholders
• Strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors
• Case example or case study

Day 4 : Ensuring Sustainability of Strategic Initiatives

• Sustainability in public sector planning and how it is measured
• Designing and controlling public sector strategic programmes
• The practice of continuous renewal and development
• The concept of creative destruction and its strategic significance
• Dealing with “value migration” and its impact on public sector strategy
• Accountability and corporate governance in public sector strategy
• Case example or case study

Day 5 : Producing a Strategic Plan that Gets Implemented

• Why most strategic plans have very little value
• A framework for an effective public sector strategic plan
• Aligning strategic and operational activities in public sector planning
• Setting realistic and ambitious goals and performance measures
• Linking planning, implementation and review
• Anticipating and reacting to expected and unexpected developments
• Overview of course and delegates’ plans for follow-up actions