This training will focus of evaluation of sectoral responses by different organizations that have somewhat exemplified a turnaround or sustained resilience and stability in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. It will review the different survival strategies undertaken such as establishing of remote working arrangements, new business models (including digital economy, and outsourced supply chains), reducing employee workload and negotiation of terms of service, costs-cutting of redundant operational expenses, and applying for government support.
Pain Points
Since the Covid-19 crisis struck, organizations have exhibited different levels of vulnerability. The most vulnerable sectors have seen their revenues drop substantially to almost nothing and even to total collapse and closure. However, in the midst of this crisis countless companies have taken successful reactive steps to ward off major losses and remain afloat to some level. The length of this pandemic so far remains indeterminate and thus shaking off the inertia of dormancy or revisiting unsatisfactory experienced current state is of paramount focus.
Value Proposition
The capacity for the top management to ward off the adverse effects of the indeterminate Covid-19 crisis could be the distinguishing factor of organizational survivability within and in the post Covid-19 crisis. Given the novelty and universality of this pandemic the usual and known business responses to similar crisis moments have proven inadequate. Therefore, new creativity and strategic responses are strongly called for. This course promises to help the participants get solid strategic patterns for responding to this and similar crisis for resilience and stability of their institutions.
Methodology
The course shall be delivered as a workshop seminar through case studies reviews from selected literature on how certain organizations have exemplified early signs of success in responding to these crises. It will also involve individual and group activities using decision trees simulation models to develop a sequence of scenario stubs and action models. In the end the participants will develop their unique implementation models of their selected strategy or strategies and showcase them.
The objectives of this workshop will be:
i. Determine different unique challenges faced by the participants’ organizations due to the Covid-19 pandemic
ii. Evaluate the different responses that the participants’ organizations have taken to the ward off the effects of Covid-19 pandemic
iii. Develop conceptualization of strategic responses to a novel pandemic such as the Covid-19
iv. Build competencies in application of decisional models for Covid-19 response strategies
v. Showcase implementation model for Covid-19 response strategies
Workshop Learning Outcomes:
The expected learning outcome of this course is that the participants will gain relevant and practical insights on capturing of opportunities and new thinking of the Covid-19 new business normal.
Workshop Contents/Topics:
The course will explore a Six-Strategy Model adapted from the MIT Sloan Management Model which is summarized as:
Strategy 1: Same Products, Different Channel – to offer the same (or similar) products and services through an online channel or Omni-channels.
Strategy 2: Same Infrastructure, Different Products – shift existing infrastructure to produce different products or to offer new types of services
Strategy 3: Same Products, Different Infrastructure – quickly augment existing infrastructure to meet the changed production and/or delivery products or channels.
Strategy 4: Scaled Same Products, Same infrastructure – Continue operating with same products and infrastructure at best scale possible until things normalize or new opportunities develop.
Strategy 5: Take holiday and restructure – Give all employees (where possible) long holiday and leave as you renovate or restructure the business in preparation for the post-Covid-19 era.
Strategy 6: Close and exit – Permanently close the business and dispose your interest
FACILITATOR BRIEF (Brief details on the Facilitator with emphasis on this particular training):
The facilitator Dr. Geoffrey Gitau has a PhD in Entrepreneurship and a double master’s degrees in entrepreneurship and management information systems. His experience stems from long experience in academia, consultancy and as a successful entrepreneur. He has provided extensive consultancy services in responsive capacity building for need driven management issues in different areas including entrepreneurship, human resources development, ICT skills and technology innovation. He is a long standing associate trainer at CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAINING & EXECUTIVE (CITED) since 2008 to date. Among institutions trained include: – Muranga County (Ufundi kwa vijana project – for unemployment crisis to develop and support imparting of vocational and entrepreneurial skills to ward of the crisis of vulnerability of the youths of in the county), National Housing Corporation (Cyber Security Training – responding to data security crisis), Kahuro Sub District Anti-Alcoholism and Drugs Abuse Campaign (to address crisis of alcoholism, drug abuse and family neglect among men in the sub county of Muranga county), Uganda Communications Commission (VOIP training and innovations in communication channels), Botswana Telecommunications Authority (VOIP training and innovations in communication channels), Britam Insurance (Basic to Advanced ICT Skills for Automation of Investment Portfolio Management), Malawi Revenue Authority (Advanced Excel Skills), Uganda Revenue Authority (Advanced Excel Skills), National Assembly of Tanzania (ICT Skills for Management staff empowerment), Human Resources Scheme of Work Review (Kiaguthu Boys and Ndururumo Secondary Schools), Economic Stimulus Project (Implementation of digital literacy infrastructure projects for selected secondary schools in Kenya), among others.
Dr. Gitau holds a Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Mathematics and Computer Studies from Kenyatta University, Diploma in Management Information Systems with IMIS – UK, Master of Communications Management (MCM) with UKTA and University of Rwanda, Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (JKUAT) and PhD in Entrepreneurship (JKUAT). He is full time lecturer at Kabarak University, a part time lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and a consultant. He has lived and worked in Kenya and United States of America, and also accomplished work assignments in Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, and United Arab Emirates (Dubai). Leadership positions held include: – National Chairman of Digital Villages (Pasha project) entrepreneurs by ICT Authority of Kenya (2011-2016), member in the Board of Directors of National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (Kenya Government, February 2019 to date), and several secondary boards in Kenya.
The target audience of the course is the top management of various public and private institutions who are responsible for decision making on business orientation in products and services delivery.
Pre-requisite/s:
None
Duration: 5 Days
Date: 19th – 23rd October 2020
Mode of delivery: Online (ZOOM – 2 Hours & Moodle – 2 Hours) every day
