Tuesday, August 8, 2023 

Topic: Strategic Project Design: A Logical Planning Framework for Smooth Execution 

Instructor: Terry Schmidt

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the wisdom of NASA’s Rule #15: “A review of failed projects and project problems indicates that the disasters were well planned to happen from the start. The seeds of problems are laid down early. Initial planning is the most vital part of a project.”

This course helps you overcome the common tendency to prematurely rush into project activities without first doing the deep thinking and decision-making required to build a foundation for smooth execution.

You’ll learn to “start smart” using a powerful interactive planning/action tool and a step-by-step process to successfully tackle complex problems, projects, issues, and opportunities of all types.

In this course you will discover a strategic approach to project and program design that is missing from conventional Project Management. The Logical Framework Approach (LFA) is a breakthrough system which cuts planning time in half and eliminates potential problems in advance. The LFA combines key concepts from Strategic Planning, Project Management, Team-building and the Scientific Method into a practical system that has been proven to add exceptional value and clarity in virtually any setting.

After learning the core concepts through discussion and case studies, you’ll apply them to your own project. So bring along a real project or performance issue to work on, and you’ll walk away with a ready-to-use action strategy for the topic of your choice.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023 

Topic: The Four Domains of Leadership 

Instructor: Kenneth Lamb

Leadership collection of skills and attitudes that involve four domains of learning:

• The self, or the improvement of an individual

• The team, or the improvement of the relationship between members of the team and the leader

• Ethics and principles that guide intentional positive action

• The project, the context in which we apply the skills and attitudes of leadership

This workshop introduces you to tools that will help your development in each of the four domains. During the course, you will analyze cases related to personal ethics, team dynamics, and project awareness based upon the principles we cover each day in class. You will also learn about tools to help you measure growth in yourself and in your team.

Thursday, August 10, 2023 

Topic: Thriving Competencies 

Instructor: Kevin Groves, PHD 

Leaders across industries and sectors must contend with multiple megatrends that collectively create highly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) organizational contexts.

Among the many trends directly impacting the requisite skills and competencies for today’s leadership, four megatrends are paramount for shaping how current and future leaders should focus their personal development:

• The digital transformational, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation

• The multi-generational workforce and socio-demographic shifts

• COVID-19, climate change, and the likelihood of future extreme events

• The changing nature of work and organizations, particularly the advance of digital technologies and

work-from-home policies accelerated via the pandemic.

Within the incredibly turbulent and complex context of these forces, leaders must focus their personal development on the most important competencies for driving organizational success.

Students in this course will examine the specific leadership competencies that are most effective in VUCA organizational contexts. These leadership skills and behaviors are captured in the Strategic Leadership Competency Model, which includes 20 competencies across four pillars: Driving Results (strategic insight, innovative thinking, maintaining focus on strategic priorities, results-orientation, and understanding the business; Engaging Stakeholders (collaboration skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, conflict management skills, and mission/values/purpose-driven); Leading Change (inspires others, leads organizational change, leader agility, performance feedback, and coaching, develops talent); and Leading Self (exhibits self- awareness, seeks feedback, work/life balance, integrity, emotional intelligence).

In addition to exploring the megatrends and their impact on workforce outcomes and business performance— such as new product and service innovations, the great resignation, and virtual work teams—students will complete the following:

• Develop and articulate an individual philosophy of leadership that reflects one’s personal values and

leadership principles

• Create a leadership development plan that outlines actions/tactics for enhancing competencies across four

levels of leadership influence (leading self, leading teams, leading strategy, and leading change

• Engage with fellow students in experiential activities (role-playing, simulations, and assessments) designed

to generate greater insights on one's leadership strengths and development opportunities.