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COURSE OUTLINE

On average, it takes 5 hours to complete this course.

PART ONE: THE 5 BUSINESS DRIVERS®

Complete in approximately 1-3 hours.
 

1. INTRODUCTION

  • Welcome

  • Why You Need Business Acumen & Course Overview

    • Introduce the 5 Business Drivers model, consisting of Cash, Profit, Assets, Growth & People

 

Sections 2 – 6 highlight each of the 5 Business Drivers through a 5-lesson format:

  • The Big Picture

  • Think Like a CEO

  • Make a Difference

  • Acumen in Action

  • Complete This Lesson

 

2. CASH

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • The Importance of Cash

    • How Companies Get & Use Cash, Retention Activity

    • Deciding How & When You Use Cash, Retention Activity

    • Measuring a Company’s Cash & Liquidity, Retention Activity

    • How Much Cash is Enough? & Retention Activity

    • Cash Levers You Control, CEO Insights, Identify your Impact

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on Cash

 

3. PROFIT

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Profit & Cash Flow are Different, Retention Activity

    • The Bottom Line & Other Measures of Profit, Retention Activity

    • Increase Profit by Growing Sales Revenue, Retention Activity

    • Increase Profit by Reducing Costs, Retention Activity

    • Profit Levers You Control, CEO Insights, Identify your Impact

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on Profit

 

4. ASSETS

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • What Are Assets & How Do We Use Them? & Retention Activity

    • Asset Strength: Liquidity, Retention Activity

    • Asset Utilization: Productivity, Retention Activity

    • Asset Strength vs Asset Utilization, Retention Activity

    • Asset Levers You Control, CEO Insights, Identify your Impact

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on Assets

 

5. GROWTH

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Why Focus on Growth? & Retention Activity

    • Growth in the Top Line & Bottom Line, Retention Activity

    • Organic & Inorganic Growth, Retention Activity

    • Growth & The Business Life Cycle, Retention Activity

    • Growth Levers You Control, CEO Insights, Identify your Impact

    • Acumen in Action: Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on Growth

 

6. PEOPLE

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Employees: The Foundation of Success, Retention Activity

    • Employees: Foundation Starts with Culture, Retention Activity

    • Customers: Beyond Satisfaction, Retention Activity

    • People Levers You Control, CEO Insights, Identify your Impact

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on People

 

7. LINKING THE 5 BUSINESS DRIVERS

  • The Big Picture

    • Division of Labor, Unity of Purpose & Job-Aid

    • Shifting Focus: The CEO Urgency Continuum

    • Shifting with the Company & Job-Aid

  • Think Like a CEO

    • Going Public: A CEO’s Unique Pressures

    • External Influencers: Financial Markets

    • External Influencers: The Stock Market

    • External Acumen & Job-Aid

  • Make a Difference

    • CEO Insights into The Big Picture

    • What’s Your Impact?

  • Acumen in Action

    • Austin’s Cycle Shop Case Study

    • Facilitator Q&A

  • Complete This Lesson

    • Acumen in Action Workbook

    • Big Picture Quick Quiz on the 5 Business Drivers

 

8. FINISH THE COURSE

  • Move to Action

    • Final Assignment: Alignment and Action Plan

    • Part One completion and free resources

 

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PART TWO: THE FINANCIALS

Complete in approximately 1.5-2 hours.
 

1. SIMPLIFYING FINANCIAL REPORTS

  • The Big Picture

    • The 3 Most Important Statements and the 5 Business Drivers

    • The Basics of Financial Statements

    • Key Items in a Form 10-K

    • Reading an Annual Report

  • Acumen in Action

    • Navigating the Financials Job-Aid

    • CEO Insights into Financial Statements

  • Complete This Lesson

    • Acumen in Action Workbook

    • Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Financials

 

Sections 2 – 4 highlight each of the 3 financial statements through a 3-lesson format:

  • Tracking Profit, Assets, Cash

  • Acumen in Action

  • Complete This Lesson

 

2. THE INCOME STATEMENT

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Statement’s Purpose & Equation

    • Statement Breakdown in a Matter of Minutes

    • In-Depth Walkthrough of the Statement

    • CEO Insights into The Income Statement

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Income Statement

 

3. THE BALANCE SHEET

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Statement’s Purpose & Equation

    • Statement Breakdown in a Matter of Minutes

    • In-Depth Walkthrough of the Statement

    • CEO Insights into The Balance Sheet

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Balance Sheet

 

4. THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Statement’s Purpose & Equation

    • Statement Breakdown in a Matter of Minutes

    • In-Depth Walkthrough of the Statement

    • CEO Insights into The Statement of Cash Flows

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Statement of Cash Flows

 

5. FINISH THE COURSE

  • Move to Action

    • Company Analysis Worksheet

    • Securing Your Seat at the Table: Tips for Applying your Business Acumen

    • Course Evaluation

    • Course Completion and Certification

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Acumen Learning is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

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This program has been pre-approved for 2.25 Business Credits toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). 

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Acumen Learning is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the NationalRegistry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org.

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