Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation

FIVE GOOD REASONS TO ASSESS YOUR STRATEGY & STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN 2025

Patrick T. Gibbons

Jefferson Smurfit Professor of Strategic Management

Programme Director: Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation,

UCD Smurfit Executive Development

1. Geo-political assumptions are unravelling: With the election of a new President in the US and the lightning speed at which he is acting to overturn many of the assumptions we have made about US leadership in the world, the whole basis of our politics in Europe (and the rest of the world) is being challenged. His America First doctrine has profound implications for Ireland and our relations with the US are being re-set. Moreover, the terrible wars in Ukraine and Gaza have exposed fissures in Europe’s response just when unity is most required.
2. Economic uncertainties accentuated: At the same time, our traditional notions of fair trade and our reliance on international trade, in an era when tariffs and other non-tariff barriers are being raised poses a threat to the basic economic model that has provided so much for Ireland over the past three decades. Globalization, which has, on balance, been very good for Ireland is under threat and an atmosphere is emerging which appears more isolating and protectionist, despite the need for co-ordinated responses to global challenges such as climate change.
3. Technological changes at pace: While the pace of political and economic change has accelerated, the emergence of AI, the global “AI race” and the dramatic implications that this technology has for all business activities requires us to think through how technology will provide enormous opportunities to meet grand challenges in the world.
4. Competitive dynamics: Across most industries, these macro challenges identified above will lead to adjustments in business strategies and more volatility in competitive responses as different management teams make different interpretations of the challenges and opportunities open to them and so make different “bets’ on the competitive roulette-wheel.
5. Settling the ship: It is in the face of this volatility that strategic leadership is required. The ability to discern environmental changes, interpret such changes as a management team, make strategic decisions, mobilise and motivate support for the execution of these decisions and monitor and learn and if necessary, adjust these decisions to emerging environmental and competitive realities.

These are the skills that we are trying to develop in our Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation. You will be joined by like-minded individuals who are confronting similar issues and you will debate issues with expert faculty in the area. This is a dynamic and highly engaging Diploma that will equip you with the Strategic leadership skills so necessary in today’s environment.

Key Benefits

Participants develop their capabilities in making and executing effective strategic decisions and acquire deep insight into how to manage innovation and lead change.

Specifically, the programme will:

• Equip the participant with the tools to assess and address the strategic challenges that face their organisation;
  Provide learning strategies for turning resistance into co-operation and for extracting maximum benefit from new opportunities;
• Improve strategic decision-making capability in addition to the ability to re-think strategy in the light of new economic and business realities;
• Build up an in-depth understanding of the strategic decisions that individuals need to make to support and apply innovation.

Programme Structure

This programme is delivered over a series of 6 two-day workshops within a 10–month period. Workshops are held on Fridays and Saturdays to minimise interference with busy work schedules. The programme structure is designed in order to facilitate busy work/lifestyles and to assist participants integrating study into their working lives while enhancing their contribution as a member of the management team.

Assessments and Workload

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. All continuous assessment is completed by participants either individually or in groups and this is set out in the study guide for each module. Some modules require pre-coursework in addition to the post-coursework which is set for each taught modules.