“The real business is external: the context and setting in which the business operates, the expectations of key stakeholders, and the strategies that give a company a unique competitive advantage. If HR professionals are truly to contribute to business performance, then their mindset must center on the goals of the business.”

Dave Ulrich et al., “HR from the Outside In”, McGraw Hill

The Programme - Virtual or Physical

This programme is for HR Professionals who want to improve their business acumen, be part of decision making processes, present business cases and help drive business performance. The experiential nature of this programme teaches how business really works and how strategic direction affects daily operations, and what they in HR can do to move the numbers in the right direction.

The board-based simulation represents the workings of a company, complete with sales, marketing and financial operations, participants learn how money moves through their business and how HR decisions can affect business results. Each participant is part of a small team, in competition with up to five others. Teams will make the strategic, operational and financial decisions needed to set up, run and expand a business over a simulated period of several cycles.

Course Outline

Day 1
1. Introduction to Business Finance
2. Simulations - January & February
3. Business Management Exercise - Plugging the Talent Drain
4. Simulations - March

Day 2
1. Business Management Exercise - Stop the Slides in Profits
2. Simulations - April
3. Budgeting and Cost Allocations
4. Simulations - May
5. Valuations & ROI - DCF & NPV

"...the problem with HR is real. One way or another, it will have to gain the business acumen needed to help organizations perform at their best..."

Ram Charan, "It's Time to Split HR", Harvard Business Review Jul-Aug 2014

Learning Outcomes

1. Gain a big picture understanding of how businesses apply strategy to deliver business results.
2. Know how to interpret and analyse financial statements and ratios.
3. Gain the ability to discuss business challenges with line managers.
4. Create value through HR interventions that apply financial and business analysis.
5. Understand the challenges of Organisational Change through a HBS Case Study (optional)