Board Oversight of Strategy (BOS)

This course is ideal for directors serving on not-for-profit and for-profit boards who want to contribute to a more productive, collaborative and efficient strategic oversight process.

After completing all components of the course, participants will:

• Recognize why boards must engage early and throughout the strategy development and implementation process.
• Analyze typical and appropriate director oversight roles, activities and key steps at all stages of the strategy oversight process and understand how to engage and when.
• Determine the questions, red flags and issues that are relevant to each stage of the strategy oversight process.
• Simulate participation in director oversight activities, and ask the right questions in different situations reflecting various business environments (i.e. growth, new competition and an emerging problem).
• Demonstrate how to engage constructively, without undermining management’s ownership of the strategic plan.
• Observe how different strategy situations call for different planning processes.
• Recognize the importance of board oversight of strategy to shareholder and stakeholder value.
• Qualify for 8 CEUs toward the annual requirement to retain their ICD.D designation

Participants will develop practical skills and confidence in applying a board oversight framework to improve strategy discussion at the board table, ensuring that the board is actively engaged in oversight while allowing management to retain the necessary ownership of the strategy.

This program uses a blended online learning structure that weaves together best practices in adult education with opportunities to engage with peers.

The model includes:

1. Independent online learning (four to six hours)
   This is a critical component of the course (and includes an e-learning module, videos, readings and more). It will prepare participants for effective participation in the live session and ensure they are ready to apply learnings from the course to their board work. The required independent learning should be completed prior to the live session. It is meant to be completed at a pace that works best for each participant.


2. Live, instructor-led session (approximately four hours)
   This instructor-led online session will focus on the application of concepts covered through independent learning. Attendance at the live session is required for successful course completion. The live session may include class discussions, breakout group discussions and exercises, Q & A with instructors and other experts, and live polling.


3. Supplemental resources and tools
   Participants will receive supplemental resources to augment the required components of their independent learning packages.


4. Learning sustainment and engagement opportunities Following course completion, participants will be invited to join an Alumni Portal, becoming part of a community where they gain access to tools and resources to help apply course learnings in real-life settings. They will also have opportunities to engage in discussion forums with course peers to exchange questions, ideas and experiences and apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills.