Why Attend

This course introduces key concepts, tools, and principles of strategic management, allowing managers to create their organization’s unique sustainable competitive advantage using differentiation, low cost, or focus strategies. The course also offers managers insight into the concepts, tools, and methodologies of the blue ocean strategy. Participants will learn the strategic logic behind creating blue oceans of uncontested market space and gain an understanding into how this concept complements and goes beyond the traditional approaches to strategy.

Event Date: 19/03/2026 – 21/03/2026

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More Dates

27/08/2026 – 29/08/2026	Price: Original price was: ₦376,250.0000.Current price is: ₦301,000.0000. incl. VAT
27/11/2026 – 29/11/2026	Price: Original price was: ₦376,250.0000.Current price is: ₦301,000.0000. incl. VAT

Overview
Course Outline

Course Methodology

This program uses an interactive and cooperative learning methodology to actively engage participants into the most effective learning process by using lectures, participants-led presentations, extensive case studies and analysis, teamwork and brainstorming, and video segments followed by discussions.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Distinguish between low cost, differentiation, focus and best cost strategies
Implement low cost strategies in their organizations to gain cost advantages over rivals
Recognize and apply differentiation strategies in their organizations to gain differentiation advantages against rivals
Apply the basic concepts, tools and frameworks of blue ocean strategy to create a new market place
Explain how blue ocean strategy is ‘put into action’

Target Audience

Professionals, managers, and executives who are involved in influencing and supporting the business and functional level strategies of their organization

Target Competencies

Business acumen
Formulating a strategy
Planning at the business and functional levels
Innovation and creativity
Critical thinking
Decision making

Course Outline

Introduction to competitive strategies
- The three big strategic questions
- Strategy and the quest for competitive advantage
- Defining competitive strategy
- The five generic competitive strategies
Low-cost provider strategies
- Objectives and key to success
- Translating a low-cost advantage into higher profits
- Approaches to securing a cost advantage
  - Controlling cost drivers
  - Revamping the value chain
- Keys to success in achieving low-cost leadership
- When does a low-cost strategy work best
- Pitfalls of low-cost strategies
Differentiation provider strategies
- Objectives and key to success
- Benefits of a successful differentiation
- Types of differentiation themes
- Sustaining differentiation
- Importance of perceived value
- Signaling value as well as delivering value
- When does a differentiation strategy work best
- Pitfalls of differentiation strategies
Best cost and focus provider strategies
- Objectives and key to success
- When does a best cost strategy work best
- Risks of a best cost strategy
- Focus low cost and focus differentiation strategies
  - Objectives and key to success
  - Approaches to defining a market niche
  - When does a focus strategy work best
  - Risks of a focus strategy
- Blue ocean strategy – the new market space
  - Red ocean versus blue ocean strategies
  - The impact of creating blue oceans
  - Value innovation: the cornerstone of blue ocean strategy
  - The six principles of a blue ocean strategy
  - Analytical tools and frameworks
    - The strategy canvas
    - The ‘eliminate-reduce-raise-create’ actions framework
    - Reading the value curves
  - Formulating a blue ocean strategy
    - Reconstructing market boundaries
    - Focusing on the big picture, not the numbers
    - Reaching beyond existing demand