Welcome to the Mini MBA Micro Course
in Corporate Strategy and Operations
Introduction - A Series of 3 Hour Online Courses
Traditional strategic planning is no longer fit for purpose. Built for stable environments, it fails to meet the demands of today’s fast-moving, unpredictable markets. This Mini MBA equips professionals to lead with clarity under uncertainty. It introduces Third Wave Strategy—a dynamic, adaptive model grounded in stakeholder alignment, systems thinking and cognitive depth.
Participants learn to frame strategy through real-world decision modes—blink, dexterous, satisficing and muddling through—and to manage decisions across three levels: external uncertainty, competitive dynamics and internal alignment. Strategic tools such as scenario analysis, value chain diagnosis and renewable competitive advantage are applied to real challenges.
This program is not about writing better plans—it is about making better decisions. It professionalises strategy as a discipline and equips leaders to act decisively, think systemically and drive renewal in volatile contexts. For professionals shaping the future, this is an essential next step.
Contextual Case Study
In the mid-1960s, punch cards were used to input code and the first computers (mainframes) took up a full floor of some office buildings. Corporate Strategy in the form of a recognised (social) science, was first recognised in 1965 following the publication of the book carrying the same name. It can be attributed to author and academic, Igor Ansoff. So, now it seems, while the technical science of business machines has experienced revolutionary, exponential change, the social science of Corporate Strategy has stood still. Of course, numerous independent tools and techniques have been evolved however none are linked and none have really replaced the legendary 'strategic plan'. Until now. Undertake this course to find out why, and what the alternative "Third Wave Strategy" is all about. You wont regret it.
Participation & Certification
All participation options are outlined below. You can subscribe directly via the buttons at the bottom of each course description, which link to the CSOsandbox subscribe page.
Upon completion of each course, participants receive a Certificate of Completion.
Course Curator
Professor Stuart Orr is a seasoned academic, a past Professor of Strategic Management at Deakin University and MIT University. In these roles he has held the position of Director of the Business Schools Doctor, and Masters Degree in Business Administration. As part of these roles he has designed and led numerous corporate strategy and related courses, conducted numerous industry specific analytical projects for the likes of the Australia China Council, the Australian Coffee Traders Association and BUPA.
Fundamental to his consulting and teaching skills Professor Orr has researched and published articles on corporate and international strategy. In addition to over 100 articles, he has published a number of books, including the top selling strategy text Strategic Management (Wiley).
Stuart is regularly interviewed by magazines such as Forbes, has operated two commercial enterprises and a board member or president of a number of organisations including the Decision Sciences Institute.
Professor Stuart Orr
Testimonials from Corporate Strategy Master Class Format
"This course brought clarity and structure to what I do – it helped me clarify strategy as a profession. I can now confidently run a strategy review or development process and I find people are learning a lot about strategy from what I am doing. Overall it has put me in an excellent position to approach my new role of Chief Strategy Officer. I can take a lead role in strategy development, even without a background in this industry"
“Having my organisation start the journey towards a more relevant and flexible approach to strategy – particularly in developing a shared understanding of our business, strategic analysis (beyond SWOT ), monitoring the right things (including assumptions and strategic risks)”
Individuals can obtain details about the course and to also subscribe directly in the online version of the course here.
Should you be representing a corporation we are delighted to invite you to express your interest in participating in an external 'open' course, or to explore the application of coursework to your organisation by completing the 'Email Us' box below.
We will be in touch to discuss your needs and to arrange the timing of our next external program.
Course 1: Reinventing Strategic Planning
Overview: Welcome to the first in our program, where we introduce you to Third Wave Strategy. This modern approach to strategic planning is designed to navigate complexity and constant change, moving beyond outdated models that rely on predictability and control.
Here we reframe strategy as a dynamic, adaptive discipline grounded in systems thinking, stakeholder alignment, cognitive depth, and professional rigor. Join us as we explore how strategy can evolve into a continuous learning process, emphasising renewal, responsiveness, and ethical clarity to ensure your viability in an ever-changing landscape.
Duration: 3 hour self paced online learning program featuring bite sized, informative videos.
Who will benefit? Ideal for professionals looking to transform their knowledge of core strategy content into dynamic strategic thinking.
Video-Based Executive Educational Training Programs
Other Courses in the program:
Course 2: Systemic Approach to strategy and Implementation
Course 3: Long-term resource planning and strategy evaluation
Course 4: Strategy augmentation and continuous improvement
Course 5: Alignment and dimensions of strategic change
Course 6: Optimising strategic alignment
Course 7: Future trends and issues in strategic management
Corporate Package
