Introducing Strategic Agility

Name: Introducing Strategic Agility
Author: Garrett Nogan

Learn how strategic and operational agility is necessary for your organization to succeed.

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 5 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

(upbeat music) Innovation, disruption and change are essential to the growth of any business. In these lessons, you will learn what it takes to be an agile leader and what strategic agility is, as well as key differences between strategic and operational agility. A changing business environment is a key factor that contributes to organizational innovation and uncertainty. Change is constant and necessary for any business. Most organizations go through some type of disruption or change every year. Let's discuss some of the changes and disruptions that can contribute to organizational uncertainty in a global business environment. Advancements in technology have revolutionized consumer behavior and the way businesses operate. Businesses used to be completely brick and mortar. And now with a click of a button, most transactions can be done online. Marketing and advertisement agencies that once specialized in print have had to completely shift their focus to digital technologies and social media. Technological advancements have also transformed supply chain management. Most companies used to only have access to local or regional suppliers, and now they're more readily available from all over the world. Another significant impact to the average business environment is the changing labor force. Over the next few decades, the workforce will change dramatically. Older generations, such as Baby Boomers and Generation X will eventually retire from the workforce while Millennials and Generation Z take over. Your average workplace procedures will likely be confronted with new methods and innovations. Another trending change is remote work or working from home. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, there's been a major shift toward more employees working remotely. According to articles by Forbes, it's estimated that up to 70% of US employees could be doing some amount of remote work by 2025. In 2018, only 7% of civilian employees had the option for remote work. This is a major shift that most organizations have had to navigate. And there are a few common questions that arise when it comes to initiating remote work, such as will employees be as productive working from home? Do they have the equipment and technology to be successful working from home? Will meetings and communication with consumers and employees be as effective in a virtual setting? Does the company have the bandwidth to effectively support this transition? What does this mean for office real estate? These are all challenging questions your organization may face because of a changing business environment. Since 2000, over 50% of Fortune 500 companies have ceased operations. This could be due in large part to those companies not being able to adjust to workplace evolutions. Your leadership must be prepared for significant changes, not only within your organization, but the environment around you. If you aren't prepared to anticipate and manage change, there's a significant risk of being left behind.

Intermediate Provider : Garrett Nogan 5 Lessons · 14m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Urdu, Chinese

Course Description

The leadership in your organization must be prepared for changes not only within the business you operate, but the environment around you. If you aren’t prepared to anticipate and manage change, there’s a significant risk of being left behind compared to the competition in your industry. A significant impact to the average business environment is the changing labor force. In these lessons, you’ll be introduced to the definition and concept of strategic agility and why it’s an imperative trait of successful organizations. In the wake of major industry changes over the last two decades, you’ll discover how and why having strategic and operational agility is vital. You’ll also learn the common traits of an agile leader and the key differences between operational agility and strategic agility.

What You'll Learn

Define strategic agility and explain why it is important for organizations
Distinguish between operational agility and strategic agility
Identify the five components an agile leader should focus on
Recognize common questions that arise from transitioning to remote work
Apply strategic agility to help an organization succeed
Examine the relationship between innovation, disruption, and change

Key Takeaways

Leadership must be prepared for changes both within the business and in the surrounding environment to avoid being left behind by competitors.
A significant impact on the average business environment is the changing labor force.
In the wake of major industry changes over the last two decades, having both strategic and operational agility is vital.
Strategic agility and operational agility are distinct, and the course covers the key differences between them.
An agile leader should focus on five specific components, and the course identifies the common traits of an agile leader.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about?

It introduces the definition and concept of strategic agility and why it is an imperative trait of successful organizations, covering how and why strategic and operational agility are vital in the wake of major industry changes over the last two decades.

Who should take this course?

It is aimed at organizational leadership that must be prepared for changes both within the business they operate and in the environment around them.

What is the difference between operational agility and strategic agility covered here?

The course teaches the key differences between operational agility and strategic agility, including a dedicated lesson on Strategic Agility vs. Operational Agility.

What skills will I gain from this course?

The course develops skills in change agility, learning agility, agile management, agile leadership, agility, and strategic leadership.

What topics do the lessons cover?

Lessons cover Innovation, Disruption, and Change; Agile Leaders and Organizations; What is Strategic Agility?; and Strategic Agility vs. Operational Agility, followed by a Test Your Knowledge assessment.

Professional Certifications and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Project Management Institute (PMI®)

Professional Development Units (PDUs): 0.25

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