EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP Strategic Business Acumen Discussion Session

2 1.Definitions of Strategic Business Acumen 2.Strategic Planning 3.Systems Thinking 4.Scenario Planning 5.Group Techniques for Consensus “If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney Strategic Business Acumen

3 Self-Understanding Resiliency Customer Orientation Business Acumen Project Leadership Managing Change Relationship Skills Communication Coaching/Mentoring Actualizing Vision What is Leadership? Self-Alignment LEADERSHIP IN THE MIDDLE Integration Working with others

Strategic Business Acumen Demonstrate ability to ethically build support for a perspective about which you feel strongly. Holistic view - think in terms of the entire system and the effects and consequences of actions and decisions. Operate with an awareness of marketplace competition and general landscape of related business arenas. General business acumen - functions of strategic planning, finance, marketing, manufacturing, R&D, etc. ALIGNMENT: Strategic Business Acumen

What is Systems Thinking? “A system is a perceived whole whose elements ‘hang together’ because they continually affect each other over time and operate toward a common purpose.” -The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook Focus on cause and effect, not symptoms, not quick fixes Study of systems is over 40 years old “There’s no sense being exact about something if you don’t even know what you’re talking about.” – John Von Neumann “WHY CAN’T WE SELL MORE?” Delay = a passage of time that provokes flawed perceptions of cause and effect delay variable S=same links Portion of Revenue Spent on Sales Sales People Bookings Revenue S S S S

What is Systems Thinking (continued) S S O Portion of Revenue Spent on Sales Sales Force Size Bookings Revenue S S Sales Force Productivity Perceived Lead Time Lead Time S S Backlog S Orders for Additional Capacity Capacity S S The Rich Get Richer You Can’t Always Get What You Want Build It And They Will Come O

Scenario Planning FOR THOSE BORN BEFORE 1945 Using history and guesses to anticipate multiple futures We were born before television, before penicillin, before polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, the contact lens, Frisbees, and the PILL. We were around before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams, and ball-point pens. Before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip- dry clothes, and before we walked on the moon.

8 What is Scenario Planning? BENEFITS Creates shared vision Lessens Group Think Reveals Mental Models Lessens “denial” Diffuses emotions Accelerates reaction Clarifies estimates The Learning is in the Dialogue

Creating The Story CHOOSE 2 DRIVERS  REVENUE  STAFF  REVENUE  STAFF  REVENUE  STAFF  REVENUE  STAFF

Group Techniques for Consensus Group Creativity & Group Think Brainstorming Delphi Technique Nominal Group Technique

11 Group Creativity and Group Think GROUP CREATIVITY When compared to individuals, groups make accurate decisions. GROUP THINK An individual may feel social pressure to conform to a popular solution that he or she would not have chosen individually. However... “None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Satchel Paige

12 Brainstorming GENERATE DON’T EVALUATE Blue Sky Isolated Wild Positive

13 Brainstorming (continued) SET THE STAGE: Moderator: first ideas, one crazy Record ideas visually We will be spending ____ minutes brainstorming ideas about our new system. There will be absolutely no interruptions during this session. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss things that the system can do for us, with the emphasis on quantity not quality. Therefore, please be prepared to suggest several ideas and to refrain from offering any criticism of the ideas of others. Advance preparation is unnecessary. If you have any questions, please contact me.

14 The Delphi Technique Keep membership anonymous Keep specific communications anonymous Allow only written communications PROBLEM STATED MEMBERS TAKE A POSITION NUMERIC SUMMARY RESULTS FEEDBACK Individual Creativity Group Creativity Group Think

15 The Nominal Group Technique Membership is NOT anonymous Participation controlled by procedures Everyone must participate verbally EACH STATES IDEA IN TURN EACH STATES DISCUSSION IN TURN IDEAS RANKED SECRETLY TOP RANKED IDEAS Individual Creativity Group Creativity Group Think PROBLEM STATED

16 Self-Understanding Resiliency Customer Orientation Business Acumen Project Leadership Managing Change Relationship Skills Communication Coaching/Mentoring Actualizing Vision What is Leadership? Self-Alignment LEADERSHIP IN THE MIDDLE Integration Working with others

Evaluation Questions Use: A.Strongly agree B.Agree C.Disagree D.Strongly disagree E.Don’t know 1.I found the presentation of material easy to understand. 2.This Advantage session increased my knowledge on the subject presented. 3.I will be able to use some of the information from this Advantage session in the future. 4.The presenter was well prepared for this Advantage session. 5.This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.