The Certificate in Strategic Management (CSM) is sponsored by the Strategic Management Association and offered by the Association for Strategic Planning Chicago Chapter. Eight “team” slots are available for each “Cohort” (section) of the program. Over the course of eight sessions participants become skilled in all phases of strategic management by executing a comprehensive planning process and constructing a strategic information system that fits within their organization. Upon successful completion of the program a finished strategic plan and operating plan are in place ready for implementation within a managed process that is understood.

CSM is designed for teams made up of, executives, consultants and emerging professionals who do the work of strategic management and are linked to an organization that presently requires strategic planning. In this way, CSM builds the capacity of a team (experts and organizations) to be successful. The program can work for individual professionals that can recruit a team from an organization in need of strategic planning assistance.

Throughout the program resources are provided that support development and execution of effective strategic planning and building of required skills to successfully manage implementation and performance evaluation over time. Included are the management principles and materials necessary to understand the process as a whole and a step-by-step methodology to the planning, implementation and performance evaluation tasks it contains, key questions to ask and answer along the way, and online and offline tools required to be successful.

Participants come together with instructors for  first (introduction and lecture) and last (lecture and plan presentations) sessions of the program. In between, six online class sessions occur and teams work independently between each session to apply  what they learn to develop an organization level strategic plan. CSM provides convenient online access to program materials via its learning management system, EctoConnect (www.ectoconnect.com/). An easy-to-use, web-based strategic management application, MAPPware 3.0, is provided. MAPPware 3.0 allows teams to connect with and maintain organization level participation and input into the planning process while the instruction team monitors developments to provide real time feedback and guidance throughout the program. (www.mappware.com)

The Certificate in Strategic Management Program is designed for participants to obtain value along two dimensions: 

• First, there are concepts and principles that must be understood to develop and manage an effective strategy.
• Second, there are specific skills, methods and processes  that must be acquired in order to be successful.

Session Strategy Topic Format 1 Program Overview In Person 2 Environmental Analysis Online 3 SWOT Evaluation Online 4 Strategic Direction Online 5 Strategy Identification & Selection Online 6 Strategic Planning Online 7 Strategic Operating Plan Online 8 Implementation Management In Person