DIPLOMA IN
STRATEGY,
INNOVATION
AND CHANGE
WWW.SMURFITSCHOOL.IE/EXECUTIVEDEVELOPMENT
PART-TIME PROGRAMME
DIPLOMA IN
STRATEGY, INNOVATION
& CHANGE
Central to the long-term success of any organisation,
strategy defines direction and creates scope to
gain competitive advantage. It is what elevates truly
extraordinary leaders above merely ordinary ones by
enabling them to develop and implement effective business
strategies while maintaining motivation, innovation and
vision in their people. Knowledge gained, skills learned,
and relationships made on the programme will enhance
career potential and directly benefit the organisations
that participants work with, both now and in the future.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The programme provides participants with the insight and
understanding needed to lead organisations in a complex
global business environment. The focus on strategy, innovation
and change will provide the knowledge and skills needed to
reach the highest level, whether that is in a commercial or
public sector context. It is designed to enhance their ability to
make and execute effective strategic decisions and provides
deep insight into how to manage innovation and lead change.
It will provide business managers and directors with a versatile,
strategic toolkit to bring coherence and direction to the actions
and decisions of the organisation.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAMME FOR?
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Individuals with at least 5 years’ managerial experience
seeking to enhance their skills in strategy
Senior executives seeking to enhance their skills in
contributing to strategy development and innovation
Managers involved in strategic planning, implementation
or change management
Individual contributors who are tasked with managing
the strategy process
Advisors and Management Consultants
Previous participants include executives and managers who
were responsible for guiding their organisation, division,
department or team through strategic change and innovation
from a wide range of industries and sectors.
WHAT WILL I GET FROM THIS PROGRAMME?
Designed to equip you with the tools to assess and address
the strategic challenges that face your organisation, this
programme will also provide you with the knowledge to
compete for senior management roles. You will learn strategies
for turning resistance into cooperation and for extracting
maximum benefit from new opportunities.
You will acquire improved strategic decision-making capability
plus the ability to re-think strategy in the light of new economic
and business realities. Programme participants will also gain an
in-depth understanding of the strategic decisions they need to
make to support and apply innovation in your organisation.
“This is a stimulating and challenging
programme and is an excellent vehicle
for transferring emerging best practice
in strategy into your company’s
business operations.”
Gary Widger;
Group Change Manager, Mercury Engineering
FACULTY
Programme Director Prof. Patrick T. Gibbons is the Jefferson
Smurfit Professor of Strategic Management at UCD and
Academic Director of Smurfit Executive Development. His
research, teaching and consulting interests are in the areas of
Strategic Management, Organisational Change and International
Business. Before entering academia, he worked in financial and
corporate strategy roles with KPMG; Jefferson Smurfit Group;
The Investment Bank of Ireland and An Post. He previously held
academic appointments in the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
Module 1: Strategic Leadership – The Personal Dimension
This module addresses the participants’ individual roles in
strategy, innovation and change and provides an action plan to
enhance their contribution in these areas. Learning outcomes
include enhanced self-awareness and critical assessment of key
strengths and development needs as strategic leaders.
Module 2: Strategy in a Turbulent Environment
– the New Normal
This module will review the ways in which global economic
shifts and rapid technological changes are transforming the
business landscape and traditional concepts of competitive
advantage, value creation and strategy. Learning outcomes
include the ability to develop, construct and employ scenario
thinking in the strategy development process.
Module 3: Market Position and Competitive Advantage
This module is designed to equip participants with a sound
understanding of the principles of positioning and competitive
advantage. Participants will develop the ability to analyse key
issues in strategic decision-making, and to understand,
in-depth, the strategic decision-making process itself.
Module 4: Top Management Teams and Strategic DecisionMaking
Module 6: Leading Innovation and Change
This module emphasises action. Participants will develop insight
and personal competence in leading the organisation through a
transition to a more innovative organisation. Learning outcomes
include the ability to identify the barriers and enablers of
innovation in their own organisations.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Structure
The programme is delivered over a series of 6 two-day
workshops within a 12–month period. Workshops are held on
Fridays and Saturdays to minimise interference in busy work
lives. 100% attendance is required.
Assignments and Workload
To attain the Diploma in Strategy, Innovation and Change
participants are assessed in each of the main subject areas via
a variety of practical assignments. This programme involves
no examinations – instead the emphasis throughout is on the
practical application of knowledge to benefit you and your
organisation. Assessment workload is spread across the
duration of the programme to allow you to combine learning
with work and life demands. In order to accelerate learning,
between modules participants are expected to complete
assigned reading from texts, cases and articles.
This module explores the skills required to evaluate the top
management team’s ability and competence in making and
implementing strategic decisions. Participants will gain superior
insight into biases that adversely affect strategic decisions and
apply techniques to overcome these biases.
Accreditation
Module 5: Resource Commitments and Real
Option Reasoning
MSc in Business (Leadership and Management Practice)
This module examines the nature of strategic decisions and how
these differ from other forms of decisions. Participants learn to
design and evaluate a business model as well as how to utilise
real options reasoning in evaluating investment alternatives which is particularly important in choices about adoption of new
technologies, among other applications.
Successful participants will be awarded a Professional Diploma
in Strategy, Innovation and Change. The qualification is
accredited and awarded by UCD and is valued at 30 credits
at NFQ Level 9.
This diploma programme also feeds into our pathway to the
MSc in Business (Leadership and Management Practice). The
pathway is based around a framework of select diploma
programmes. By completing any three of these select diplomas
within a 5-year timeframe, you will earn 90 credits (the national
standard for a Masters Qualification) and will be conferred with
the qualification of MSc Business (Leadership & Management
Practice) accredited and awarded by UCD at Level 9 on the
National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
WWW.SMURFITSCHOOL.IE/EXECUTIVEDEVELOPMENT
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Entry Requirements
Participants should hold a primary degree or equivalent
professional qualification. Consideration will be given to applicants
who do not hold a primary degree but whose depth of industry and
organisational experience, qualifies them as suitable participants.
Fees
The fee of ¤6,950 or ¤6,603 (UCD Business Alumni Discount) is
a comprehensive cost that includes your tuition, all course related
materials, lunches and refreshments while on campus, library
access etc. There are no additional overheads. We offer staged
payments and there is no interest charged for choosing this
option. Terms and conditions apply. Tax relief is also available on
fees. For details visit www.revenue.ie
“The Diploma in Strategy, Innovation &
Change provides an excellent platform to
build a relevant strategy for your business.
It gives you the confidence to review your
strategy, influence change and to prepare
a plan that will add real value to your
business. The content and delivery of the
programme was excellent and I would have
no hesitation in recommending the course.”
John Donegan;
Brand Director, Skoda Ireland
Application Procedure
A completed application form, digital photograph and copy of
transcripts for all university-level degrees (if applicable and
excluding those taken at UCD) will be required.
How to Apply
If you would like to apply for this programme, please contact a
member of our team on +353 1 716 8889, email exec.dev@ucd.ie
or visit our website www.smurfitschool.ie/executivedevelopment
The University’s terms and conditions apply to all offers of places of study at the
University. Copies are available on request. Every effort has been made to ensure the
information in this publication is correct. Details are subject to change without notice.
Smurfit Executive Development
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Tel: +353 1 716 8889
Fax: +353 1 716 8997
Email: exec.dev@ucd.ie
www.smurfitschool.ie/executivedevelopment