Tools for Strategic Management

(WSP 111)

The last few years have demonstrated that in these chaotic and competitive times, sound strategic choices are crucial to keeping your organization moving in the right direction. This course will present and apply proven strategic decision-making tools (frameworks for thinking) that will enable teams to frame the right questions and generate timely and high-impact responses. Students will find that they can immediately use these tools, both as individuals and in teams, in their current business activities to achieve significant increases in effectiveness. Students are encouraged to select existing work-related topics for in-class application of the course materials. This course is intended for all levels of managers in for-profit and nonprofit organizations who want to increase their ability to think and act strategically. The key takeaway is a “tool kit” that provides for effective strategic thinking (doing the right thing) as a precursor to effective strategic planning (doing things right).

Ronald Schilling, President, RBS Consulting Group

Ronald Schilling received a PhD in electrical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York and an MS from Princeton. His work experience includes R&D, marketing, business development, strategic planning, and general management and CEO positions. He has been a member of teams bringing CMOS, microprocessors, CT, MRI, healthcare IT, and other high tech products to market successfully with the aid of strategic thinking tools. Tools that he developed have been used for training Stanford Alumni Consulting Team participants. His current focus is venture activity associated with unique technologies and excellent teams in the life sciences area.