Course introduction

The College of Law, a practical legal education and training provider, has developed this fascinating course.

Why join the course?

Undoubtedly, strategic planning is an essential process used to drive business success. While organizations always need to navigate and plan for challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated stability and continuity and altered both social norms and ways of doing business – creating a “new normal.” Before the pandemic, professional service companies (such as lawyers, accountants, management and technology consultants, architecture, engineering, and etc.) were already facing technology disruption, new business models, and new styles of working, mounting competition, globalization and changing client demands.

Hence, COVID-19 has further speeded up change, and professional service businesses need to get ready for the “new normal” by analyzing opportunities and risks in increasingly complex and challenging markets.

After all, this course covers foundational elements around strategy mindset and the strategic planning route for professional service firms. Here, learners will consider current challenges professional service firms are experiencing. The adage, ‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail,” stands as relevant as ever during this emergency time.

Course details:

Course developer: The College of Law

Instruction language: English

Course provider: Future Learn
Free course access expires 19 Aug 2022

Course Prize: $44 (Digital and Printed certificate)
Subscription to unlimited access price: $27.99 (Digital Certificate)

Subject: Business and Management

Duration: 4 weeks (2 hours/week)

Course instructors:

1. Peter Edwards

Peter is a Legal Business Management Director at the College of Law, Australia.

2. Maryann Haffenden

Maryann is the lead educator of this training.

3. James Jung

James is the Director of Programs for the College of Law Asia.

What you will learn:

By completing this course, you‘ll be able to:

• Explain foundational business strategy concepts
• Apply common strategic tools to analyze the existing business state of a professional services firm
• Illustrate key strategic business models
• Develop primary elements of a strategic plan for a professional services firm

Who can enroll?

This course is applicable to owner-operators of small-medium businesses, individuals in leadership positions at an organization or business unit level, business analysis, and strategic planning roles.

Besides, this course is also applicable to entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.

Course content

What topics will it cover?

• What is strategy? Introduction to thought leaders.
• Components of the ‘strategy process’ and a strategic plan
• Analysis of pre-COVID-19 trends (e.g., client sophistication, governance, connectivity)
• Strategic analysis in a PS firm context. Internal/external environmental analysis tools applying the following frameworks – SWOT, PESTLE, and Porters 5 Forces
• Strategic choice – key growth strategy models
• And, the Strategic plan – pulling it together; SMART objectives

 Course benefits

• 100% online
• Unrestricted access to this course
• Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
• A PDF certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible (only for self-funded applicants)

How to apply?

You can join this course by completing registration in the given link.

Apply Now

For more information about Online Course on ‘Strategic Planning for Professional Service Firms in the Time of COVID-19”, please visit FutureLearn’s website.

Explore more opportunities:

• Deakin University Free Online Course on ‘Building Resilience Skills to Thrive at Work’
• 2023 Korean Foundation Fellowship for Korean Language Training (KLT) Program
• Monash University Free Online Course on ‘Psychology of Learning” (Certificate Provided)
• Walters Kundert Fellowship 2023 for Post-PhD Researchers in the UK (£10,000 award)
• Free Online Course on ”Agriculture, Economics & Nature” (Certificate Provided)