AC

Alphacrucis College

Details for Strategic Thinking and Planning

A few years ago Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek church, confronted his church team with the question: “Are we making a difference?” Hybels leads a mega-church, has written multiple best-selling books and is a sought after speaker…yet he asks himself and his team this question: “Are we making a difference?” Hybels is a strategic thinker. Strategic thinkers constantly remind themselves and their team of the purpose of their organisation and ask in the light of this purpose: Where are we now (are we making a difference), where do we want to be and how are we going to get there? In ‘Strategic Thinking and Planning’ we unpack these questions and look at what the Bible as well as contemporary management texts offer to help us in our quest to turn our visions into reality and make a difference.

Quick Info

  • Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
  • Unit code: LEA302
  • Credit points: 10
  • Total workload hours per week: 10
  • Number of timetabled hours per week: 3 *

* Note: Units with reduced contact hours (such as those taught in Intensive format) will have an increased assessment component.↩

Prerequisites

The following courses are prerequisites:

The unit Strategic Thinking and Planning is part of the subject area Leadership and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This unit aims to introduce students to strategic thinking for organisational planning.  While this is an extensive area, it is important for students to grasp the need for clarity of thinking, the holding of clear objectives, and the value of proactivity rather than reactivity, flexibility, coordination, commitment and operation from a secure base.

Subject Content

  1. Christian worldview and its implications for individual and organisational purpose
  2. Christianity meets reason: philosophy and thinking processes.
  3. The purpose of Vision and vision casting
  4. Effective teams
  5. Vision Planning: Understanding the dynamic environment
  6. Vision Planning: Developing a strategic plan Flexibility: maintain or create?
  7. Models of problem solving and strategies for success
  8. Resourcing and organisational security

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, guided discussion/reflections, tutorials, Web-based simulations, games.

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Forum Postings (20%, 2500 words); Strategic Project (40%, 2000); Major Essay (40%, 2000 words)

Prescribed Text

Readings Provided

Representative References