Course Information

Introduction

This 35-day Operations Strategy Executive Mini Master develops advanced knowledge and practical skills required to design, manage and improve operational systems that support organizational strategy and long-term performance.

The program focuses on operational design, value streams, lean principles, service strategy, KPI frameworks and resource planning. Participants will learn how to align operations with business objectives, analyze value creation flows, improve efficiency through lean approaches, design effective service strategies and optimize resources.

Through practical frameworks, operational analysis tools, case studies and applied projects, participants will develop the ability to improve operational effectiveness, create sustainable value and support strategic execution through strong operational capabilities.

The final five days are dedicated to a thesis project, where participants apply the operations strategy concepts and tools learned throughout the Mini Master to analyze a real organizational operations challenge and develop a structured improvement plan.

Objectives

By the end of this Executive Mini Master, participants will be able to:

1. Design operational systems that align processes, resources and capabilities with organizational strategy.

2. Analyze value streams to identify improvement opportunities and increase operational value creation.

3. Apply lean management principles to reduce waste, improve efficiency and strengthen operational performance.

4. Develop service strategies that improve service delivery and customer value.

5. Create KPI frameworks that measure operational performance and support strategic decision-making.

6. Optimize resource planning approaches to improve operational capacity and effectiveness.

7. Complete a practical thesis project that applies operations strategy concepts, tools and frameworks to an organizational operations challenge and presents an improvement plan.

Who Should Attend?

This Executive Mini Master is designed for:

1. Operations directors, managers and professionals responsible for operational strategy and performance improvement.

2. Business leaders and department heads responsible for aligning operations with organizational objectives.

3. Process improvement, quality and lean management professionals supporting operational excellence.

4. Service operations and customer experience managers responsible for improving service delivery.

5. Project managers and professionals seeking to strengthen their strategic operations management capabilities.

Training Method

• Pre-assessment
• Live group instruction
• Use of real-world examples, case studies and exercises
• Interactive participation and discussion
• Power point presentation, LCD and flip chart
• Group activities and tests
• Post-assessment
If Applicable:
• Each participant receives a 7” Tablet containing a copy of the presentation, slides and handouts

Program Support

This program is supported by:
* Interactive discussions
* Role-play
* Case studies and highlight the techniques available to the participants.

Daily Agenda

Daily Schedule (Monday to Friday)
- 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM Technical Session 1
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Technical Session 2
- 12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Technical Session 3
- 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Lunch Break (If Applicable)
- Participants are expected to engage in guided self-study, reading, or personal reflection on the day’s content. This contributes toward the CPD accreditation and deepens conceptual understanding.
- 02:00 PM – 04:00 PM Self-Study & Reflection

Please Note:
- All training sessions are conducted from Monday to Friday, following the standard working week observed in the United Kingdom and European Union. Saturday and Sunday are official weekends and are not counted as part of the course duration.
- Coffee and refreshments are available on a floating basis throughout the morning. Participants may help themselves at their convenience to ensure an uninterrupted learning experience Provided if applicable and subject to course delivery arrangements.
- Lunch Provided if applicable and subject to course delivery arrangements.

Part 2 / 7

Understanding Value Stream Management

- Exploring the concept of value streams and their role in operational performance.
- Understanding how value is created and delivered to customers.
- Identifying activities that contribute to or reduce organizational value.


Analyzing Value Flow

- Mapping value streams to understand current operational performance.
- Identifying delays, bottlenecks and unnecessary activities.
- Evaluating opportunities to improve flow and efficiency.


Optimizing Value Creation

- Developing improvement approaches based on value stream analysis.
- Aligning processes with customer and business requirements.
- Supporting continuous improvement through value-focused thinking.

Part 3 / 7

Understanding Lean Principles

- Exploring the fundamentals of lean management and operational efficiency.
- Understanding waste reduction and value creation principles.
- Recognizing the role of lean thinking in improving performance.


Applying Lean Improvement Methods

- Identifying operational waste and improvement opportunities.
- Applying basic lean tools to improve processes.
- Supporting teams in implementing operational improvements.


Building Lean Practices

- Developing continuous improvement behaviours within organizations.
- Encouraging employee involvement in improvement activities.
- Creating systems that sustain lean performance.

Part 4 / 7

Understanding Service Strategy

- Exploring the role of service strategy in organizational success.
- Understanding customer expectations and service value creation.
- Identifying factors that influence service performance.


Designing Service Delivery Models

- Developing service approaches aligned with customer and business needs.
- Improving service processes and operational consistency.
- Creating effective service experiences.


Managing Service Performance

- Measuring service effectiveness and customer outcomes.
- Identifying service improvement opportunities.
- Developing strategies to improve service quality and efficiency.

Part 5 / 7

Understanding Operational KPI Frameworks

- Exploring the role of KPIs in measuring operational performance.
- Understanding the relationship between objectives, indicators and results.
- Identifying appropriate measures for operational priorities.


Developing KPI Systems

- Designing KPI frameworks aligned with operational strategy.
- Defining targets, measurement methods and reporting approaches.
- Creating systems that support performance monitoring.


Using KPIs for Improvement

- Analyzing performance results to identify operational gaps.
- Supporting decision-making through performance information.
- Developing improvement actions based on KPI outcomes.

Part 6 / 7

Understanding Operational Resource Management

- Exploring the role of resources in achieving operational objectives.
- Understanding workforce, equipment and capability requirements.
- Identifying factors affecting operational capacity.


Planning and Optimizing Resources

- Allocating resources based on operational priorities.
- Balancing demand, capacity and performance requirements.
- Improving resource utilization and efficiency.


Building Sustainable Operational Capacity

- Developing approaches for long-term resource planning.
- Supporting flexibility and adaptability in operations.
- Aligning resources with strategic operational goals.

Part 7 / 7 Executive Mini Masters Thesis

Operations Strategy Improvement Thesis

Day 31: Thesis Definition and Planning

- Identify an organizational operations strategy challenge related to the topics covered during the Mini Master.
- Define the thesis problem statement, objectives and expected outcomes.
- Establish the scope, methodology and approach for the thesis project.


Day 32: Research and Operations Strategy Analysis

- Collect relevant information about the selected operations strategy challenge.
- Apply operational design, value streams, lean basics, service strategy, KPI frameworks and resourcing concepts learned during the program.
- Analyze current operational practices, gaps and improvement opportunities.


Day 33: Developing Operations Strategy Solutions

- Develop recommendations to improve operational strategy effectiveness.
- Create an implementation roadmap with actions and responsibilities.
- Define measures to evaluate operational improvement outcomes.


Day 34: Thesis Writing and Final Review

- Structure the thesis document using a professional format.
- Review analysis, recommendations and operational improvement approach.
- Prepare the executive summary and final presentation materials.


Day 35: Thesis Presentation and Evaluation

- Present the completed operations strategy improvement thesis project.
- Receive feedback and evaluation on the proposed solutions.
- Finalize practical actions for applying operational strategy improvements.