COURSE OUTLINE

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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