Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme
Go beyond traditional project management and redefine project success with a strategic approach.
Start date
16 June 2021
Enroll by 08 June 2021
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Programme overview
The increase in the number of projects that fail outright in organisations that undervalue project management as a strategic tool for driving change.
PMI (2020).
The percentage of organisations that report that their projects mostly or always deliver their full benefits.
Wellingtone (2021).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, traditional approaches to project delivery have become insufficient. Digital transformation, business innovation, and new customer needs have made it vital for professionals to adapt their project strategies to allow for the complexity and uncertainty associated with constant change.
The Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme is unique in its contemporary approach, which equips you with both the leadership and strategic project management skills needed to facilitate successful project delivery. You’ll develop an understanding of the benefits associated with strategic project leadership, and gain the tools for redefining and achieving organisation-wide success within today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
Is this programme for you?
This programme is designed for professionals seeking to introduce strategic approaches and techniques for project leadership. It is relevant to anyone interested in creating a more sustainable environment for project success, and improving their ability to achieve organisation-wide objectives.
Whether you’re in a senior strategic position or working within a project environment, you will benefit from the skills and knowledge shared on this programme. Managers will improve the success of their projects by learning a more strategic approach, while business and operations professionals will understand how to effectively implement strategic projects they’re responsible for. Professionals will also improve their leadership skills to manage project teams and strategic initiatives more effectively.
Programme overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, traditional approaches to project delivery have become insufficient. Digital transformation, business innovation, and new customer needs have made it vital for professionals to adapt their project strategies to allow for the complexity and uncertainty associated with constant change.
The Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme is unique in its contemporary approach, which equips you with both the leadership and strategic project management skills needed to facilitate successful project delivery. You’ll develop an understanding of the benefits associated with strategic project leadership, and gain the tools for redefining and achieving organisation-wide success within today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
Is this programme for you?
This programme is designed for professionals seeking to introduce strategic approaches and techniques for project leadership. It is relevant to anyone interested in creating a more sustainable environment for project success, and improving their ability to achieve organisation-wide objectives.
Whether you’re in a senior strategic position or working within a project environment, you will benefit from the skills and knowledge shared on this programme. Managers will improve the success of their projects by learning a more strategic approach, while business and operations professionals will understand how to effectively implement strategic projects they’re responsible for. Professionals will also improve their leadership skills to manage project teams and strategic initiatives more effectively.
What will set you apart
A set of personalised leadership skills to help you guide teams through uncertainty to successful project delivery.
Tools to manage potential project risks, capitalise on opportunities, and achieve organisational objectives.
The ability to respond to complexities faced when dealing with people, power, and politics.
Guidance from leading industry experts and Oxford Saïd faculty, and access to the official Oxford Executive Education Alumni group on LinkedIn.Programme curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Strategic projects: Understanding complexities and risks
Module 2
Reinterpreting success and performance in strategic projects
Module 3
Structural complexities: Responding to the challenges of scale and pace
Module 4
Sociopolitical complexities: Responding to the challenges of power, people, and politics
Module 5
Emergent complexities: Responding to the challenges of uncertainty and change
Module 6
Success by design
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What past students
think
Kay McEvilly
Business Operations Manager, NHS
For anyone leading complex projects or planning to in the future, this programme is a must. From start to finish the programme has been a tremendous experience. Delivered by noted academics from the University of Oxford and industry experts, the quality and breadth of content has been outstanding. The online format provided a flexible mode of learning, supporting the combined demands of work pressures and studying. The programme materials, with their relatability to real-world deliverables, have been first class, and the interactive class discussions have provided excellent insights into applying learning and sharing experiences across a wide spectrum of industries. Initially, I had high expectations and I wasn't disappointed; I thoroughly enjoyed the mental stimulus to exercise critical thinking, and challenge myself and be challenged to stretch beyond the learning material, allowing me to really explore the research. Having completed a number of development and leadership programmes, including the Oxford Leading Strategic Projects Programme, this far surpassed any I have undertaken previously. In just six weeks, I have come away with a whole new toolkit of skills and tools that are highly relevant to my current and future aspirations.
Programme Directors
Harvey Maylor
Associate Professor in Management Practice, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Alexander Budzier
Fellow in Management Practice in the Field of Information Systems, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
About the certificate
Learn strategic project leadership and receive an official certificate of attendance from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the programme handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the programme.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
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We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.
