Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making Course

Introduction

The Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making Course equips participants with the critical skills and frameworks needed to navigate complexity, evaluate competing priorities, and drive sustainable success. This course emphasizes a systems-thinking approach, combining analytical rigor with creative problem-solving and a forward-looking mindset.

Participants will explore key concepts such as competitive analysis, scenario planning, risk assessment, and stakeholder alignment. They will also gain insights into behavioral decision-making understanding how cognitive biases, group dynamics, and uncertainty impact leadership choices.

Designed to be highly interactive and application-oriented, the course uses case studies, simulations, and real-world decision challenges to strengthen participants’ strategic acumen and decision-making confidence.

This course is designed to help professionals develop a future-focused mindset and the tools to think and act strategically. Through a blend of theory and application, participants will learn how to assess their competitive environment, anticipate change, set priorities, and make informed, data-driven decisions under pressure.

Participants will explore the cognitive processes behind decision-making, identify common pitfalls and biases, and practice structured approaches to evaluating alternatives and managing uncertainty. The course also emphasizes the importance of aligning decisions with organizational vision, values, and long-term strategy.

Who should attend?

This course is designed for:

·         Mid- to senior-level managers and executives seeking to enhance their strategic leadership capabilities

·         Business owners and entrepreneurs making critical growth and investment decisions

·         Department heads and team leaders responsible for aligning operational decisions with organizational strategy

·         Project and program managers leading cross-functional initiatives or high-stakes projects

·         Corporate strategists, analysts, and consultants involved in planning, forecasting, or risk analysis

·         Public sector and nonprofit leaders navigating policy, resource constraints, or social impact strategies

·         Aspiring leaders preparing for higher-level roles requiring strategic influence and decision authority

Course duration

5 days

Course objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

·         Define strategic thinking and distinguish it from operational or tactical decision-making.

·         Apply strategic frameworks and analytical tools (e.g., SWOT, PESTLE, Porter's Five Forces) to assess business environments and identify strategic priorities.

·         Use systems thinking to understand interdependencies, identify leverage points, and anticipate unintended consequences in complex situations.

·         Evaluate strategic alternatives using structured decision-making models that balance risk, feasibility, and long-term impact.

·         Recognize and mitigate cognitive biases and heuristics that affect individual and group decision-making.

·         Develop forward-looking strategies that align with organizational goals, market dynamics, and stakeholder expectations.

·         Manage uncertainty and ambiguity using scenario planning, risk analysis, and contingency strategies.

·         Communicate strategic insights and decisions clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders.

·         Foster strategic alignment across teams by linking decisions to vision, mission, and values.

·         Enhance adaptability and agility by incorporating feedback, learning loops, and iterative decision-making approaches.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Strategic Thinking

·         What is strategic thinking? How it differs from operational and tactical thinking

·         Characteristics of strategic leaders

·         The mindset and behaviors of strategic thinkers

·         Case study: Strategic missteps vs. foresight

·         Self-assessment: Personal strategic thinking profile

Module 2: Environmental Scanning and Strategic Analysis

·         Analyzing internal and external environments

·         Tools: SWOT, PESTLE, Porter's Five Forces

·         Identifying trends, disruptors, and competitive positioning

·         Market intelligence and stakeholder mapping

·         Group activity: Industry and organization analysis

Module 3: Systems Thinking and Complexity

·         Introduction to systems thinking and interconnected decision-making

·         Identifying root causes vs. symptoms

·         Mapping feedback loops and interdependencies

·         Systems archetypes and leverage points

·         Simulation: Solving a complex, cross-functional problem

Module 4: Strategic Decision-Making Models

·         The decision-making process: structured vs. intuitive approaches

·         Rational choice model, OODA Loop, and Cynefin Framework

·         Prioritization techniques (Eisenhower Matrix, Decision Trees, Cost-Benefit)

·         Criteria weighting and evaluation matrix

·         Application: Structured decision-making under time pressure

Module 5: Behavioral Decision Science and Bias

·         Cognitive biases and heuristics: anchoring, confirmation, groupthink, etc.

·         Emotional influences and overconfidence in leadership

·         Tools to recognize and mitigate bias in teams

·         Decision fatigue and improving decision hygiene

·         Case discussion: Leadership failure due to flawed judgment

Module 6: Scenario Planning and Strategic Agility

·         Planning under uncertainty: knowns, unknowns, and black swans

·         Introduction to scenario development and contingency planning

·         Strategic foresight and horizon scanning

·         Adapting decisions in volatile environments

·         Group exercise: Designing strategic responses to alternative futures

Module 7: Risk Assessment and Ethical Decision-Making

·         Identifying and analyzing risk in decision contexts

·         Risk tolerance and decision thresholds

·         Ethical dilemmas in strategic leadership

·         Balancing short-term gains with long-term sustainability

·         Case study: A high-stakes ethical leadership decision

Module 8: Driving Strategic Alignment and Execution

·         Translating strategic insights into actionable plans

·         Aligning decisions with vision, mission, and values

·         Communicating strategic decisions to stakeholders

·         Monitoring and adapting strategy implementation

·         Team activity: Building a strategic alignment map

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.

Online/ On-site (Nairobi, Kenya) Training Schedule