Mini MBA
Course Objective
To provide executives and specialists with a systemic understanding of key business management aspects: from strategy and finance to risk, leadership, and operational efficiency.
Participants will not simply study management concepts; they will apply them to their own professional situations: analyzing the business environment, identifying risks, working with financial metrics, and shaping management goals and approaches to improve efficiency.
The outcome of the course is not a set of theoretical knowledge, but practical management tools that can be immediately used within your company, team, or department.
Designed For
- Heads of departments and teams;
- Middle and senior managers;
- Entrepreneurs and business owners;
- Project, product, and operational managers;
- Specialists transitioning to a managerial level;
- Professionals who need to systemize their knowledge of business management.
The course will be especially beneficial for those who already have practical work experience and want to transition from managing separate tasks to a systemic vision of business and managerial decision-making.
What Will Graduates Gain?
Learning Outcomes:
- Deep understanding of the key principles of strategic business management;
- Ability to analyze the external and internal business environment;
- Knowledge of practical tools for risk management;
- Better understanding of the financial model and key business metrics;
- Ability to evaluate the financial viability of managerial decisions;
- Application of modern leadership tools;
- Ability to manage engagement, motivation, and conflicts in teams;
- Ability to formulate and cascade KPIs / OKRs;
- Ability to identify areas of inefficiency in processes;
- Practical application based on your own management case study.
Program
Session 1. Strategic Analysis and Business Modeling
- Analysis of the company's external and internal environment.
- PESTEL, SWOT, and Porter's 5 Forces model.
- Modern business models and value propositions.
- How to determine the value a company creates for the customer.
- Shaping a strategic vision and key priorities.
Session 2. Strategic Planning and Execution
- Turning strategy into specific goals and actions.
- Cascading strategic goals to the operational level.
- Roadmap: how to plan the execution of strategic initiatives.
- Synchronizing strategy, structure, people, and resources.
- How to move from a "strategy on paper" to its implementation.
Practice
Case study: building a value proposition and an express SWOT analysis of your own department, unit, or business.
Session 1. Risk Identification and Assessment
- What strategic, operational, and external risks are.
- Managing risks under uncertainty.
- How to systematically identify risks and gather the necessary data.
- Assessing risk probability and impact.
- Risk prioritization.
Session 2. Risk Matrix and Response Strategies
- Building a Risk Matrix / risk heat map.
- Response strategies: risk avoidance, mitigation, transfer, and acceptance.
- Risk monitoring and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs).
- Action planning in case critical risks materialize.
- An executive's crisis mindset.
Practice
Case study: creating a registry of 5 key risks for your department and developing a risk response plan.
Session 1. Financial Literacy for Managers
- How to read key financial statements.
- P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow.
- Profit vs. Cash Flow: what the difference is.
- Key financial metrics and ratios.
- Which financial indicators are essential for a manager to understand.
Session 2. Management Accounting and Decision Evaluation
- Fixed and variable costs.
- Direct and indirect costs.
- Budgeting and budget control.
- How to evaluate the financial feasibility of management decisions.
- ROI, NPV, IRR, and Payback Period.
- Evaluating project and investment efficiency.
Practice
Case study: express calculation of project cost/expenses or analysis of a specific budget item.
Session 1. Goals, KPIs, and OKRs
- Modern leadership styles.
- Situational leadership: how to adapt your approach depending on the context.
- A manager's emotional intelligence.
- Authority without formal power.
- Resilience and stability of the managerial position.
- Self-regulation and handling emotionally challenging situations.
Session 2. Teams and Cross-Functional Interaction
- How to drive team engagement.
- Motivating people during times of change and uncertainty.
- Conflicts: causes, prevention, and constructive resolution.
- Manager-employee communication.
- Cross-functional interaction.
- How to create an environment of accountability and collaboration.
Practice
Case study: self-diagnosis of your leadership style and developing an engagement plan for key employees.
Session 1. Goals, KPIs, and OKRs
- Management by Objectives (MBO).
- How to formulate managerial goals properly.
- KPIs: what to measure and how to prevent metrics from becoming a mere formality.
- Building and cascading KPIs.
- OKRs: Objectives & Key Results.
- When to use KPIs and when to use OKRs.
- How to align team goals with business goals.
Session 2. Process Optimization and Performance Management
- How to identify bottlenecks in business processes.
- Waste and inefficiency: Lean approaches.
- Process optimization without unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Operational control system.
- Feedback as a tool for increasing efficiency.
- Preparation and presentation of the final case study.
Practice
Final Case Study: developing a KPI / OKR map for your department and preparing practical management recommendations.
FAQ
It is recommended to have experience working in a company or managing your own area/project. The program focuses on applying tools to real-world work situations rather than academic business studies.
MINI MBA is a compact, practical program covering key management competencies: strategy, risks, finance, leadership, and efficiency. It is not an equivalent to a full academic MBA program.
Yes. In fact, we highly recommend working with your real business, team, project, or department so that you can immediately put these tools into practice.
Recordings and learning materials are hosted on the LMS platform according to the terms of the specific enrollment cohort.
You need to complete the training and all practical assignments required by the program, including the final practical case study.
Education provides
