Cambridge
Academy
In London

Dates: 26 January – 14 February 2025

Location: London, UK

Cost: £7700

Introduction

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Governance, Strategic Management, and Strategic Leadership, designed to deepen participants' understanding of these essential, interconnected practices. Covering frameworks at both the Board level (Board Governance) and Executive Management levels (Assurance and Control), this training guides participants through each process of Corporate Governance. It also offers tools to assess and strengthen their organization’s governance practices, identifying areas for potential improvement.

By addressing key elements of Strategic Management—from purpose setting to implementation—this course emphasizes the leadership role in achieving strategic success. Participants will learn to link Corporate Governance with Strategic Planning across the organization, supporting mission-critical goals. Additionally, the course explores global standard codes, guiding principles, and benchmarking methods for Corporate Governance, helping participants align with international best practices.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand a flexible Governance model based on key principles adaptable to any organization.
• Gain insights into the Roles, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Board.
• Develop and implement a Corporate Strategy.
• Apply a comprehensive model of Governance Assurance and Control within their organization.
• Explore an integrated model for Governance Disclosures and Reporting.
• Learn about global standard codes and guiding principles for Corporate Governance.
• Evaluate Board performance and benchmark governance practices.

Target Audience

This course is tailored for:

• Board Chairs and Committee Chairs
• Board Members and Committee Members
• Board Secretaries
• CEOs, Executive Directors, and Senior Management
• Corporate Governance Professionals
• Strategic Planning Officers and Professionals
• Risk and Compliance Management
• Internal Audit and Control Functions
• Corporate Affairs and Legal Professionals

Target Competencies

• Fundamentals of Corporate Governance
• Board Roles, Duties, and Responsibilities
• Board Governance Frameworks
• Elements of Strategic Management Systems
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Perspective
• Integrated Assurance and Control Models
• Disclosures and Reporting Models

Course Content

Unit 1: Foundations of Corporate Governance

• Definition and core concepts of Corporate Governance.
• Evolution and history of Corporate Governance.
• Challenges in establishing effective governance.
• Key principles for good Corporate Governance.
• The 4 Ps of Corporate Governance (People, Purpose, Process, Performance).
• Key roles and stakeholders in Corporate Governance.

Unit 2: Board Structure and Dynamics

• Board hierarchy within organizational power structures.
• Essential roles, duties, and responsibilities of the Board.
• Optimal Board structure and composition.
• Key tools and instruments for Board governance.
• Board dynamics and effective decision-making.
• Influence of Board leadership on organizational culture.

Unit 3: Strategic Planning and Corporate Alignment

• Core concepts and definitions of Strategy.
• Role of strategic leadership in corporate success.
• Various levels of organizational strategy.
• Components of the Strategic Management System.
• Importance of aligning strategy with governance.
• Integrating strategy across departments for coherence.

Unit 4: Governance, Assurance, and Control Models

• Overview of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC).
• The Three Lines of Defense Model in corporate governance.
• Role of Internal Audit in assurance and control.
• Responsibilities of External Audit in governance oversight.
• Emerging practices in Governance Assurance.
• Frameworks for integrated disclosures and reporting.

Unit 5: Global Corporate Governance Standards

• Overview of international Corporate Governance codes.
• Fundamental guiding principles across various codes.
• Methods for conducting Board evaluations.
• Metrics for governance performance measurement.
• Benchmarking governance practices worldwide.
• Adaptation of global standards to local contexts.

Unit 6: Compliance and Ethical Standards

• Definition and importance of compliance in governance.
• The ethical foundation of corporate governance.
• Legal responsibilities of the Board and executives.
• Developing and implementing compliance policies.
• Role of ethical codes in shaping corporate culture.
• Monitoring compliance with internal and external audits.

Unit 7: Leadership and Organizational Culture

• Influence of strategic leadership on governance.
• Leadership styles and their impact on governance.
• Building a governance-centered organizational culture.
• Role of the Board in promoting ethical leadership.
• Bridging leadership with accountability frameworks.
• Encouraging leadership development across the organization.

Unit 8: Risk Management in Governance

• Key risk management principles in governance.
• Integrating risk management with governance.
• Role of the Board in overseeing risk.
• Risk assessment, mitigation, and control techniques.
• Emerging risks in the corporate environment.
• Tools for risk measurement and reporting.

Unit 9: Stakeholder Management and Engagement

• Identifying key stakeholders in governance.
• Board responsibilities in stakeholder management.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Stakeholder analysis and engagement strategies.
• Communication strategies for stakeholder relations.
• Transparency and accountability to stakeholders.

Unit 10: Governance in Crisis Management

• Preparing governance structures for crises.
• Developing crisis response strategies.
• Role of the Board in managing organizational crises.
• Crisis communication protocols and transparency.
• Post-crisis assessment and learning.
• Case studies on governance in crisis situations.

Unit 11: Internal Control Systems

• Purpose and importance of internal controls.
• Design and implementation of control systems.
• Internal control and its impact on governance.
• Key indicators for effective internal control.
• Role of internal audit in maintaining controls.
• Continuous improvement in control processes.

Unit 12: Governance Disclosure and Transparency

• Importance of transparency in corporate governance.
• Models for effective governance disclosure.
• Techniques for reporting governance activities.
• Ensuring accuracy and completeness in disclosures.
• Frameworks for annual and interim reports.
• Best practices in corporate transparency.

Unit 13: Evaluating Governance Practices

• Methods for evaluating governance effectiveness.
• Tools for assessing governance frameworks.
• Benchmarking governance performance.
• Setting standards for governance evaluation.
• Analyzing gaps in governance practices.
• Action plans for governance improvement.

Unit 14: Integrating Sustainability with Governance

• Importance of sustainability in governance.
• Board’s role in promoting sustainable practices.
• Sustainable strategy development and alignment.
• Measuring the impact of sustainability on governance.
• Reporting on sustainability achievements.
• Case studies in sustainability and governance integration.

Unit 15: Future Trends in Corporate Governance

• Emerging trends and challenges in governance.
• Technological advancements impacting governance.
• Adapting governance practices for future resilience.
• The evolving role of GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance).
• Future skills required for effective governance.
• Preparing organizations for governance challenges ahead.