Professional Skills
Influencing strategic thinking for finance professionals
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Businesses need clear strategies in order to survive and succeed. As a finance professional, whatever the size of the organisation you work for, you'll need to be able to think strategically and contribute to strategic decisions. This online course will provide you with tools, frameworks and ideas to help you influence strategic thinking.
The course has been developed in conjunction with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and will be of benefit to: senior finance professionals; high potential junior finance professionals; entrepreneurs; directors of small medium enterprises; other professionals involved in developing an organisation’s strategic objectives and goals.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB027 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
What you will study
The course is designed so that you can work at your own pace with a variety of activities that examine strategic thinking, strategic analysis, strategic options and strategic decision-making.
You will learn how to:
- undertake a strategic analysis of an organisation
- identify and evaluate strategic options available to an organisation
- contribute to strategic decision-making
- assess the factors affecting implementation of strategic decisions within an organisation.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. The course will take approximately 30 hours to study. The online content includes activities that provide you with an opportunity to test your knowledge or apply your learning and ideas to practice. You will be asked to apply the tools and frameworks you study to an analysis of a case study on the strategy of a featured company. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course, which has been developed in conjunction with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), features the distinctive strengths of The Open University from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity to help you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your continuing professional development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (Note: the course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the course’s final submission date. Information about the submission date is available when you register for the course.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
Once you register, you will receive access to the online course where you will find the content, exercises, case study, information about the work-based activity and links to your learning adviser. There are no printed materials with this course, although there are some articles that you can download to print and read offline if you prefer.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB027 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
For the work-based activity for this course you are invited to choose one of three options – a presentation, report or personal development plan – that outlines a strategic issue from your workplace, analyse it using some of the frameworks and ideas from the course, and devise a possible solution. You will be encouraged to involve key stakeholders and professional peers when developing the subject and content of your work-based activity.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate. You can use the certificate to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or a professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | GB027 |
| Credit points | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Study explained
- Special fee arrangements
- - the OU has relationships with many professional bodies, and as part of those relationships members may be entitled to special fee arrangements.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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