Apply strategic thinking

Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.

apply strategic thinking techniques
apply techniques for strategic thinking
move strategically
think strategically
strategic thinking and it’s implementation

skill/competence

cross-sector

Apply strategic thinking is an essential skill of the following occupations:

Public employment service manager: Public employment service managers supervise the operations of a public employment agency. They oversee the staff that helps people find employment or provide occupational guidance.
Online sales channel manager: Online sales channel managers define the sales programme for e-commerces such as goods sold via e-mail, internet and social media. They also assist in planning the of the online sales strategy and identifying marketing opportunities. Online sales channel managers also analyse competitor sites, review the site performance and analytics.
Online marketer: Online marketers use e-mail, internet and social media in order to market goods and brands.

Tourism contract negotiator: Tourism contract negotiators negotiate tourism-related contracts between a tour operator and tourism service providers.
Network marketer: Network marketers apply various marketing strategies, including ​network marketing strategies to sell products and convince new people to also join in and start selling these products. They use personal relations to attract customers and sell various types of products.
Destination manager: Destination managers are in charge of managing and implementing the national/regional/local tourism strategies (or policies) for destination development, marketing and promotion.
Strategic planning manager: Strategic planning managers create, together with a team of managers, the strategic plans of the company as a whole, and provide coordination in the implementation per department. They help to interpret the overall plan and create a detailed plan for each one of the departments and branches. They ensure consistency in the implementation.
Business valuer: Business valuers provide valuation assessements of business entities, stock and other securities and intangible assets, in order to assist their clients in strategic decision-making procedures such as mergers and acquisitions, litigation cases, bankruptcy, taxation compliance and general restructuring of the companies.
Producer: Producers are responsible for managing the production of music, motion pictures or series. They plan and coordinate all aspects of the production such as the direction, publication and financing. Producers oversee the production and manage all technical and logistic aspects of recording and editing.
Exhibition curator: Exhibition curators organise and display artworks and artefacts. They work in and for museums, art galleries, museums for science or history, libraries and archives, and in other cultural institutions. In general, exhibition curators work in artistic and cultural exhibition fields and events of all kinds.
Conservator: Conservators organise and valorise works of art, buildings, books and furniture. They work in a wide range of areas such as creating and implementing new collections of art, preserving heritage buildings by applying restoration techniques as well as foreseeing the conservation of literary works, films, and valuable objects.
Licensing manager: Licensing managers oversee licenses and rights of a company regarding use of its products or intellectual property. They ensure that third parties comply with specified agreements and contracts, and negotiate with and maintain relationships between both parties.
Travel agency manager: Travel agency managers are in charge of managing employees and activities of a travel agency. They organise, advertise and sell tourist offers and travel deals for specific regions.
Animal facility manager: Animal facility managers coordinate and plan all activities of a zoo. They formulate policies, manage daily operations, and plan the use of materials and human resources. They are the driving force and public face of their institution. This often involves representing their institution on a national, regional and global scale and taking part in coordinated zoo activities.
Equality and inclusion manager: Equality and inclusion managers develop policies to improve affirmative action, diversity and equality matters. They inform staff in corporations on the importance of the policies, and implementation and advise senior staff on corporate climate. They also perform guidance and support duties for employees.
Activism officer: Activism officers promote or hinder social, political, economic or environmental change by using different tactics such as persuasive research, media pressure or public campaigning.
Corporate training manager: Corporate training managers coordinate all the training activities and development programmes in a company. They also design and develop new training modules and supervise all the activities related to the planning and delivery of these programmes.
Exploration geologist: Exploration geologists examine and prospect for mineral deposits. They identify, define and obtain legal title to an economically viable mineral deposit.  They are responsible for design, management and execution of the exploration programme.
 
Pension scheme manager: Pension scheme managers coordinate pension schemes in order to provide benefits in retirement to individuals or organisations. They ensure the daily deployment of the pension fund and define the strategic policy for developing new pension packages.
Category manager: Category managers define the sales programme for specific product groups. They research market demands and newly supplied products.

Artistic director: Artistic directors are in charge of the programme of an artistic project or a cultural organisation. They are responsible for the strategic vision, the visibility and the quality of all kind of artistic activities and services such as theatre and dance companies. Artistic directors also manage staff, finances and policies.
Brand manager: Brand managers analyse and plan the way a brand is positioned on the market.
Programme funding manager: Programme funding managers take the lead in developing and realizing the funding strategy of the programmes of an organisation.
Youth centre manager: Youth centre managers plan and supervise the operations of children and youth homes which provide care and counselling services. They assess the needs for youths in the community, develop and implement pedagogical methods, and develop programs for the improvement of youth care in the centre.

Apply strategic thinking is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this skill may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Auction house manager: Auction house managers are responsible for the staff and activities in an auction house. Moreover, they manage the finances and marketing aspects of the auction house.
Public administration manager: Public administration managers direct, monitor and evaluate the implementation of government policies. They supervise staff and manage resources used for implementation, and write reports on the implementation process. They also communicate with government officials and the public to inform them on the policies. Public administration managers may also participate in the design and creation of public policies.
Trade regional manager: Trade regional managers are responsible for activities and staff in an assigned region for a specific chain of stores.

Wholesale merchant: Wholesale merchants investigate potential wholesale buyers and suppliers and match their needs. They conclude trades involving large quantities of goods.
Airport chief executive: Airport chief executives lead a group of airport directors who are responsible for all areas of the airport. They envision and make decisions on the strategic direction of the airport based on the information provided by their team of managers.
Cultural facilities manager: Cultural facilities managers direct the operations of facilities that provide cultural services such as theatre, movies and music. They plan and organise the daily operations of the related staff and facilities and ensure the organisation follows the latest developments in its field. They coordinate the different departments of the facility and manage the correct use of resources, policies and budgets.
Healthcare consultant: Healthcare consultants advise health care organisations on the development of plans to improve patient care and safety. They analyse health care policies and identify issues, and aid in the development of improvement strategies.
Policy manager: Policy managers are responsible for managing the development of policy programs and ensuring that the strategic objectives of the organization are met. They oversee the production of policy positions, as well as the organization’s campaign and advocacy work in fields such as environmental, ethics, quality, transparency, and sustainability.
Public relations manager: Public relations managers strive to convey and maintain a desired image or reputation of a company, individual, governmental institution, or organisation in general to the public and stakeholders at large. They use all sorts of media and events to promote the positive image of products, humanitarian causes or organisations. They attempt to ensure that all public communications portray clients the way they want to be perceived.
Marketing manager: Marketing managers carry out the implementation of efforts related to the marketing operations in a company. They develop marketing strategies and plans by detailing cost and resources needed. They analyse the profitability of these plans, develop pricing strategies, and strive to raise awareness on products and companies among targeted customers.
Sports programme coordinator: Sports programme coordinators coordinate sports and recreation activities and policy implementation. They develop new programs and aim to promote and implement them, as well as ensure the maintenance of sports and recreation facilities.
Legislative drafter: Legislative drafters research pieces of legislations and edit them in order to make them stronger and more clear. Rarely they also add new ideas which have never been incorporated into a law or a bill before.
Airport operations officer: Airport operations officers perform supervisory and administrative work monitoring operational activities on an assigned shift at a large airport. They ensure the safe take-off and landing of aircrafts
Product manager: Product development managers are responsible for managing the lifecycle of a product. They research and develop new products in addition to managing existing ones through market research and strategic planning. Product managers perform marketing and planning activities to increase profits.
Youth programme director: Youth programme directors develop and implement programmes and policies to improve and ensure youths’ well-being. They facilitate communication with and between educational, recreational, counselling or other youth related institutions, organise events for youths and families, and promote social mobility and awareness.
Import export manager: Import export managers install and maintain procedures for cross-border business, coordinating internal and external parties.
Social services manager: Social services managers have the responsibility for strategic and operational leadership and management of staff teams and resources within and or across social services. They are responsible for the implementation of legislation and policies relating to, for example, decisions about vulnerable people. They promote social work and social care values and ethics, equality and diversity, and relevant codes guiding practice. They are responsible for liaising with other professionals in criminal justice, education and health. They can be responsible for contributing to local and national policy development.
Cultural centre director: Cultural centre directors manage operations of a cultural community centre, they organise and promote cultural activities and events, manage staff, and aim to promote the overall inclusion of cultural programmes in the community.
Public health policy officer: Public health policy officers develop and implement strategies for the improvement of a community’s health care policy. They advise governments on policy changes and identify problems in current health care policies.
Human resources manager: Human resources managers plan, design and implement processes related to the human capital of companies. They develop programs for recruiting, interviewing, and selecting employees based on a previous assessment of the profile and skills required in the company. Moreover, they manage compensation and development programs for the company’s employees comprising trainings, skill assessment and yearly evaluations, promotion, expat programs, and general assurance of the well-being of the employees in the workplace.
Child day care centre manager: Child day care centre managers provide social services to children and their families. They supervise and support child care workers and manage the childcare facilities. Child day care centre managers have the responsibility for strategic and operational leadership and management of staff teams and resources within and or across child care services.
Airport director: Airport directors oversee a group of managers who lead or supervise a particular area of the airport, programme or a project.

References

1. Apply strategic thinking – ESCO