Orientation - A Kingdom Perspective & The State of Entrepreneurship
In Matthew 25, we see
Jesus’ parable of the talents. From an eternal perspective, this passage of
scripture relates to how we use God’s gift of grace. As it relates to the
marketplace, it is a story about capital, investment, entrepreneurship, and the
proper use of economic resources. Genesis 1:26 provides the mandate to “be
fruitful...multiply...fill the earth...subdue it...have dominion.” It is clear
from the parable of the talents and the cultural mandate that in subduing the
earth, entrepreneur-minded people need to be attentive to the possibilities for
change, development, and investment. This course is designed to help Christian
entrepreneurs discover biblical and general business principles aimed at:
recognizing and fine-tuning skills needed to innovate and grow world-class organizations
in a manner that far outweighs sense knowledge; being known as experts in their
field; and being able to say “I serve God!”
Expanding Your Capacity to Think Through Biblical
Apart from hearing and
studying, meditating God’s Word is one of the most important ingredients for
success in life. This course will help students refocus and get to the root of
fears and worries by providing resources that will challenge and grow their
understanding of prayer through biblical meditation and confession. Students
receive enlightening tips to help evaluate and re-shape this aspect of
leadership, and insightful advice for strengthening and revitalizing their
prayer life.
Be All You Can Dream -- The Next
Level!
Through a carefully
constructed series of sessions that blends faculty lectures, case studies,
videos, group workshops and individual exercises, this simulated course focuses
on visionary and strategic leadership. The instructional team creates a
learning environment that is invigorating, demanding and enjoyable. Drawing on
the lives of historical and current Christian business giants, as well as
actionable research, students explore the very essence of seeing and thinking
big!
- Windows of Opportunity - Long-term success in business requires
building a sustainable competitive advantage -- one that endures, despite new
competitors entering the market or existing competitors improving their
products or services. This course utilizes case studies that focus on the strategies
and tactics to achieve that advantage through examining the uniqueness or
viability of a product or service and understanding the marketplace and past
trends that have governed the conditions that preceded the trends.
- Breakthrough Thinking - Breakthrough thinking provides the critical
skills that business executives need to hone their creative thinking processes.
This course imparts a deliberate, focused effort, aimed at developing radically
new approaches that overcome constraints, instead of making incremental
changes. Students learn techniques to remove boundaries and limits in their
thought process, and mastery that allow new and innovative ideas to flow.
- Project Management: The Road Map to the Growth Plan- This course provides business owners with
guidelines for creating and managing growth projects. Students review in-depth
concepts and solutions that support scope statement, effective planning,
scheduling, controlling, resource allocation, and performance and communication
requirements.
- The Decision Making Process - Decisions are the hardest thing to make,
especially when it is a choice between where you think you should and want to
be and where God wants you to be. Small business owners make decisions on a
daily basis, addressing everything from day-to-day operational issues to
long-range strategic planning. This course takes you through “A-Team” building
exercises and the process of seeking the wisdom of God to make decisions that
can significantly improve your decision-making effectiveness.
- Economic Development - This course provides the business owner with a
review of the various programs and benefits that are offered through local,
county and state government entities. The discussion will center around
supplier diversity, set aside contracts for socio-economic certification,
marketing with certifications, subcontracting potential networking, local area
empowerment zones, real estate tax negotiations, and building improvements.
- Winning with Innovation - For decades, the technological revolution has
captured the imagination of business owners and many consumers. As a result,
leading industries are turning their strategy to change how they do business.
This course provides a landscape view of how technology is employed to address
organizational change efficiently. Students utilize appropriate quantitative
techniques to analyze: business issues, market segments, professions and
careers that have virtually disappeared, Artificial Intelligence, technological
accountability, and the who, what, when, where and why of transformative
technology.
- Navigating Dunamis Connections - At every level, leaders need to be able to
execute on their ideas and persuade others to join in the execution. To do so,
understanding how to create and utilize power in an organization is critical.
In this course, students will focus on: personal and business relationships
with power; methodologies for thinking that will challenge to see the world
differently, listen more carefully, and collaborate more productively; and how
networks shape the economy and influence an organization’s performance.
- Strategic Advantage - Being the best, whether customer service,
market, product, quality or technological opportunities, successful companies
find a way to differentiate themselves from the masses. The “Strategic
Advantage” course places emphasis on two sources: (1) core competencies,
building and expanding on the organization’s internal capabilities; and (2)
strategically important external resources, which are shaped and leveraged
through key external relationships and partnerships.
- Global Sources - You will gain an understanding of mapping key
components and processes to produce and distribute products and services,
examining top priorities to drive growth, issues that may inhibit growth, and globalization
through import/export opportunities.
- Measurement & Performance Analytics - Performance measurement and target-setting are
important to the growth process. This course examines, in detail, how to identify quantifiable factors or key performance indicators (KPIs) that are clearly linked to the drivers of success in your business sector or industry, ways to measure them, and setting SMART targets to give everyone in your business a clear sense of what the organization should be aiming for.
- IPOs, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Succession
Strategies - When viewed as an investment, business is
something that will have real, tangible value. Throughout this course, exit
strategies for building a robust succession planning program that aligns
current talent development with future leadership needs, the vision of the
company, and a comprehensive look at all factors that impact the business
owner, family, and the community, are discussed in depth. Business owners will
also be provided with information to maximize retirement savings options,
funding taxable investment accounts and improving inefficiencies in the
business.
- Growth Plan Workshop - Once a business growth strategy has been
developed, it is crucial the new plan is implemented effectively. This workshop
allows students to fully bring all phases of the growth plan process together
into a multimedia presentation. Students will also look at ways to effectively
manage the implementation and execution of the plan ensuring resources are
coordinated to achieve optimum performance.
- Growth Plan Presentation - During this course, each student has twenty
minutes to present their growth plans to a panel of business experts in their
field, their business advisors and peers, and an additional ten minutes for
questions and answers.