MBA Resources: Professional Advisor

The course consists of 3 Modules each of which has a Learn, Apply, Transform element. For more details about this please watch the videos on the Learn, Apply, Transform page. When you are ready to begin the course, please read through the project document below which provides some simple instructions and explains the timetable for completing the various elements and attending the workshops. You should then work your way through the short videos in the Learn element of Module 1 before moving onto the Apply element.

Download Project Documentation

Learn 1

Each Module has a Learn element consisting of short videos explaining the core MBA frameworks. Watch the videos in the order they are set out before beginning the Apply element. Watch the Learn Video for more details.

Video 1.1

Duration: 9 minutes

Course content and structure

This introductory video explains the Modern Theory of Business Strategy and The Three Layers of Strategic Analysis and in so doing it sets out the content and structure of this bite-sized MBA course.

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Video 1.2

Duration: 3 minutes 26 seconds

How to very quickly analyse any Industry (Part 1)

This video is the first of three parts where we start to examine how to analyse an industry. Have a go at the exercise at the end of this video and try to list the 10 industries in order of their profitability. Answers will be provided at the start of the next video.

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Video 1.3

Duration: 10 minutes 20 seconds

How to very quickly analyse any Industry (Part 2)

In this video we start to look at the 5 forces that determine the profitability of an industry. These are referred to as Porter's 5 Forces. We initially focus on the first 3 forces: (1) The Influence of Customers (2) Influence of Suppliers and (3) Intensity of Competition.

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Video 1.4

Duration: 15 minutes 4 seconds

How to very quickly analyse any Industry (Part 3)

Here we concentrate on the final two forces that determine profitability: (4) The Availability of Alternatives; and (5) The Ease of Market Entry. This completes our look at how to carry out an industry analysis. This is Step 1 and is the first step we always go through in developing strategy for any business.

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Video 1.5

Duration: 11 minutes 24 seconds

How to use an industry analysis to develop strategy

Having determined how to quickly analyse an industry in videos 1.2 - 1.4, in this video we start to consider how we can use this information to identify the best strategies for an organisation.

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Video 1.6

Duration: 4 minutes 42 seconds

Next Steps

This is the final video in Module 1. Here we briefly set out the various additional steps that we must go through before we can understand any client business, industry or market. These steps will form the basis for the rest of the course and will be covered in quite some depth in Module 2 and Module 3. Once you have watched this video please move onto the Apply element of Module 1. This is where you will begin to consider how you can apply the concepts taught in Module 1 to analyse any client's industry. However, to begin with, you will be asked to consider how these concepts can be applied to your own industry. This initial exercise is important because it gives a common frame of reference, helping to ensure that everyone in your team / department has a consistent understanding of the concepts before then applying them to the firm's clients.

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Apply 1

The Apply element consists of a Workshop and a Workflow component. Watch the Apply video for more details.

Workshop 1

The workshops give you the opportunity to work with your colleagues to apply the concepts taught in the Learn element of the course. The workshops should consist of 4-8 individuals. The workshops can be informal, perhaps taking place around someone's desk or in your work cafe and they only need to last for approximately 30 minutes. Before attending the workshop please watch the video below and follow the instructions in the project documentation.

Workshop 1 VideoWorksheet 1

Workflow 1

The workflow resources below have been designed to help you to apply MBA concepts to your day-to-day work. Watch the video below and follow the instructions.

Workflow 1 VideoWorkflow 1 Resources

Transform 1

Each Module has a Transform element. Watch the Transform video for more details.

The transform resources below have been designed to help you get the best out of your own energies skills and talents in a way that ties in with the strategies of your organisation. Please Watch the video below and complete the personal development plan.

Transform 1 VideoPersonal Development Plan 1
Learn 2

Each Module has a Learn element consisting of short videos explaining the core MBA frameworks. Watch the videos in the order they are set out before beginning the Apply element. Watch the Learn Video for more details.

Video 2.1

Duration: 9 minutes 21 seconds

Introduction to the Internal Layer

In this video we establish how we can classify the assets within any business by putting them into specific categories. We also consider why the assets within a business cannot be considered independently of the competitive environment in which that business operates. The Industry Layer and Internal Layer are interrelated.

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Video 2.2

Duration: 6 minutes 40 seconds

Case Study 1

We apply the principles looked at in Video 2.1 to a case study. This explains how South West Airlines has used its internal assets to overcome its industry forces and thereby become the most profitable short haul airline in the world. This helps us to start thinking about how we can identify the key assets within a business.

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Video 2.3

Duration: 3 minutes 4 seconds

An Introduction to Step 2

Here we see that having carried out an industry analysis, before we are really ready to select the best strategies for a business or identify the Key Assets that need to be place (in order to execute those strategies) there is actually another step that we need to go through.

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Video 2.4

Duration: 13 minutes

The Strategy Canvas - Step 2

Our next step is to draw a strategy Canvas (Step 2). This helps us to graphically represent the customer needs that the business seeks to prioritize. We look at several examples of how to draw a strategy canvas. You will be asked to draw a Strategy Canvas in the Apply element of Module 2.

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Video 2.5

Duration: 8 minutes 42 seconds

Strategy Selection - Step 3

Now we are ready to select the best strategies for a business from the predefined lists. It is important that the strategies that we select are consistent with the Strategy Canvas. Strategy Selection is Step 3.

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Video 2.6

Duration: 11 minutes 27 seconds

Case Study 2

To consolidate the learning we apply all the principles looked at so far on the course to a case study (IKEA). We see that any strategy must be based upon an internal layer properly equipped to execute that strategy otherwise it is nothing more than a marketing slogan or trick shot which is indefensible against the competition and transparent to the customers.

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Video 2.7

Duration: 14 minutes 52 seconds

Key Asset Maps and Functional Strategies - Step 4

In this video we see that identifying Key Assets and determining how to put them in place (referred to as Functional Strategies) both form part of Step 4. Once you have watched this video please move on to the Apply element of Module 2

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Apply 2

The Apply element consists of a Workshop and a Workflow component. Watch the Apply video for more details.

Workshop 2

The workshops give you the opportunity to work with your colleagues to apply the concepts taught in the Learn element of the course. The workshops should consist of 4-8 individuals. The workshops can be informal, perhaps taking place around someone's desk or in your work cafe and they only need to last for approximately 30 minutes. Before attending the workshop please watch the video below and follow the instructions in the project documentation.

Workshop 2 VideoWorksheet 2

Workflow 2

The workflow resources below have been designed to help you to apply MBA concepts to your day-to-day work. Watch the video below and follow the instructions.

Workflow 2 VideoWorkflow 2 Resources

Transform 2

Each Module has a Transform element. Watch the Transform video for more details.

The transform resources below have been designed to help you get the best out of your own energies skills and talents in a way that ties in with the strategies of your organisation. Please Watch the video below and complete the personal development plan.

Transform 2 VideoPersonal Development Plan 2
Learn 3

Each Module has a Learn element consisting of short videos explaining the core MBA frameworks. Watch the videos in the order they are set out before beginning the Apply element. Watch the Learn Video for more details.

Video 3.1

Duration: 7 minutes 42 seconds

An Introduction to the General Layer

The Future 5 Forces Model - Step 5 (Part 1)

This is the first video in Module 3 and in this video we look at the importance of considering changes that take place in the General Layer in terms of their impact on the Five Industry Forces. This is achieved through the use of The Future Five Forces Model (Step 5 - Part 1).

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Video 3.2

Duration: 7 minutes 31 seconds

Case Study

We apply the Future Five Forces Model to a case study (Filofax) in order to demonstrate how easy it is to misinterpret the real impact of changes in the General Layer unless such changes are understood in relative terms through the use of The Future Five Forces Model.

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Video 3.3

Duration: 6 minutes 10 seconds

Further examples of the Future 5 Forces Model

We consider a range of additional examples of the application of the Future Five Forces Model. For example how to properly interpret changes in laws and regulations, economic conditions (where we look at the 3 rules of recessions) and technology. You will be asked to apply the Future 5 Forces model in the Apply element of Module 3.

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Video 3.4

Duration: 5 minutes 35 seconds

The Future Brand Identity Model - Step 5 (Part 2)

In addition to considering how changes in the General Layer impact on the industry forces we also need to determine how they can disrupt the brand identity of a business by creating new needs that have not been factored into a business's strategies. This is represented through use of The Future Brand Identity Model (Step 5 - Part 2). You will be asked to apply this in the Apply element of Module 3.

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Video 3.5

Duration: 9 minutes 21 seconds

Responding to Change and Building for the Future

The Resource Based View of Change - Step 6

Here we look at how a business can respond to change in a superior manner to the competition by building on top of its unique set of strengths. This is referred to as the Resource Based View of Change (Step 6). This highlights that because no two businesses are alike, no two businesses should respond in the same way to a change in the General Layer. 

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Video 3.6

Duration: 10 minutes 56 seconds

Corporate Strategy

The Sweet Spot of Opportunity - Step 7

As well as using our understanding of how to deal with change by building on top of what the business is good at, a business should also use this understanding to identify new markets where it can also succeed based upon its core underlying set of strengths. Identifying where to compete in terms of new products / services and geographical markets is the Corporate Strategy and it is Step 7. 

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Video 3.7

Duration: 8 minutes 23 seconds

A New Platform for Collaboration

When this step-by-step approach to developing strategy is shared by professionals and their clients it allows a wide range of individuals with different skill sets to work together to develop the best strategies possible. Once you have watched this video please move onto the Apply element of Module 3.

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Apply 3

The Apply element consists of a Workshop and a Workflow component. Watch the Apply video for more details.

Workshop 3

The workshops give you the opportunity to work with your colleagues to apply the concepts taught in the Learn element of the course. The workshops should consist of 4-8 individuals. The workshops can be informal, perhaps taking place around someone's desk or in your work cafe and they only need to last for approximately 30 minutes. Before attending the workshop please watch the video below and follow the instructions in the project documentation.

Workshop 3 VideoWorksheet 3

Workflow 3

The workflow resources below have been designed to help you to apply MBA concepts to your day-to-day work. Watch the video below and follow the instructions.

Workflow 3 VideoWorkflow 3 Resources

Transform 3

Each Module has a Transform element. Watch the Transform video for more details.

The transform resources below have been designed to help you get the best out of your own energies skills and talents in a way that ties in with the strategies of your organisation. Please Watch the video below and complete the personal development plan.

Transform 3 VideoPersonal Development Plan 3