ProQual Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership

1. Evaluate strategic planning theories, models, and principles of resource management
2. Evaluate the principles of capital investment appraisal and the role of stakeholders
3. Prioritise strategic objectives consistent with organisational vision and values
4. Identify programmes of activity capable of achieving strategic objectives
5. Develop risk management plans addressing identified and potential risks
6. Identify current and future resource requirements and assess implementation approaches
7. Develop policies consistent with strategy and vision and set meaningful KPIs
8. Ensure the strategic plan comprehensively covers products/services, quality, HR, finance, and marketing
9. Ensure organisational structures and processes are capable of delivering the plan
10. Develop plans to manage the supply chain, interdependencies, and potential friction
11. Address legal and ethical requirements and gain stakeholder support for the plan

1. Analyse concepts of empowerment, authority, responsibility, accountability, and delegation
2. Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of centralised and decentralised structures
3. Assess the place of change management within strategy execution
4. Analyse principles of business process re-engineering
5. Evaluate project management techniques and tools for monitoring strategic execution and performance
6. Develop vision and objectives of a strategic business plan
7. Delegate responsibilities to authorised individuals and allocate resources in accordance with priorities
8. Monitor implementation progress against the evaluation plan and KPIs
9. Take prompt action in the event of problems arising during execution
10. Justify an evaluation approach appropriate to the business and purpose
11. Evaluate success against evaluation criteria and identify reasons for successes and failures
12. Identify the degree of fit between organisational strategy and structure

1. Assess implications of corporate strategy and organisational development on structures and workforce
2. Evaluate the influence of strategic choice on structure, culture, leadership, and direction
3. Evaluate the role of strategic leadership when operating in turbulent markets and periods of change
4. Analyse characteristics and suitability of leadership styles used to provide strategic direction
5. Evaluate the nature, influence, and implications of an empowerment strategy
6. Evaluate the impact of leadership styles on strategic decisions
7. Align business processes to the achievement of strategic goals
8. Evaluate the impact of operational and financial strategies on internal and external stakeholders
9. Apply strategies to motivate employees and enhance their performance
10. Evaluate tools and processes for measuring performance of the business and its people
11. Benchmark organisational performance against competitors
12. Evaluate effectiveness of employee engagement and employee relations strategies
13. Evaluate the environmental and social impact of the organisation and identify areas for improvement

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1. Analyse the components and scope of strategy and its links with other aspects of business
2. Evaluate environmental scanning techniques, scenario planning models, and economic forecasting data
3. Analyse decision-making tools and techniques and a range of approaches to strategy development
4. Evaluate strategic planning tools, theories, and the relationship between strategy analysis and strategic choice
5. Analyse variable pricing strategies at different stages of an organisation's lifecycle
6. Evaluate political, economic, social, technological, legal, ethical, and environmental factors (PESTLE)
7. Analyse competitor activity, stakeholder interests, and market value and potential
8. Formulate a strategic vision consistent with organisational purpose, values, and long-term goals
9. Specify stakeholders' roles and responsibilities in strategy development
10. Benchmark the organisation's place in the market and identify its competitive edge
11. Develop a viable strategy consistent with the strategic vision, mission, and values
12. Evaluate models to deliver the strategy and assess existing structures and processes

1. Analyse the scope and types of compliance and non-compliance and assess their seriousness
2. Evaluate different governance structure models and the roles of those within the governing body
3. Analyse legal and regulatory requirements for statutory reports and potential scope of non-compliance
4. Clarify distinctions between statutory requirements, regulatory requirements, and codes of practice
5. Evaluate the concept, application, and implications of good governance
6. Analyse governance requirements for legal, regulatory, ethical, and social matters
7. Establish controls ensuring probity of the organisation's activities
8. Resolve tensions between governance requirements and stakeholder interests
9. Analyse compliance with legal requirements and take commensurate action regarding non-compliance

1. Define the scope of organisational culture and its effect on individual and organisational behaviour
2. Evaluate theories and models of organisational cultures and values
3. Evaluate drivers to the development of organisational values in different types of organisation
4. Evaluate ethical dimensions of organisational culture and assess communication perspectives
5. Assess the role of change management techniques in developing positive cultures and values
6. Analyse potential for friction between organisational and individuals' values
7. Characterise the nature, strengths, and weaknesses of cultures, sub-cultures, and values
8. Identify ways to enhance culture and values and factors that influence them
9. Assess the effect of different cultures and values on business performance and market position
10. Develop a vision, strategy, and structures for influencing culture and values positively
11. Use leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills to influence culture positively

1. Analyse the evolution of strategic human resource management theories
2. Assess current and future skills needs and evaluate the strategic implications of planning and recruitment
3. Analyse strategic planning tools to forecast and identify workforce requirements
4. Ensure plans address current and future needs in terms of sufficiency, skills mix, and flexibility
5. Evaluate the contribution of workforce planning to business success
6. Benchmark retention rates against historical performance and relevant industry sectors
7. Evaluate strengths, weaknesses, and shortfalls of the skills mix and factors affecting turnover
8. Review coherence and effectiveness of policies and practices contributing to retention
9. Develop a human resource strategy addressing the organisation's strategic objectives and priorities
10. Analyse the role of employee engagement in an HR strategy
11. Evaluate the effectiveness of the HR strategy and make recommendations for improvement

1. Evaluate a range of methods of raising finance and decision-making techniques and tools
2. Analyse requirements of and influences on investment appraisal and constraints on raising finance
3. Evaluate factors influencing an organisation's capability to raise finance
4. Calculate the cost of activities and overheads needed to deliver the business strategy
5. Assess a range of options for delivering business objectives against agreed criteria
6. Prepare a business case for financial resources covering objectives, benefits, costs, risks, and contingencies
7. Obtain stakeholder support for the business case
8. Select a source of finance based on terms, risks, and relevant business factors
9. Agree a contract specifying amounts, interest, payback terms, and timescales

1. Define the scope of quality and distinguish between quality management, assurance, control, and improvement
2. Evaluate a range of approaches to quality management and the principles underpinning them
3. Analyse the development of quality management principles and requirements of quality standards
4. Identify the scope of a quality strategy and devise a strategy capable of assuring and controlling quality
5. Specify standards, processes, and protocols that support the maintenance of quality standards
6. Evaluate the use of technology to manage quality for different purposes
7. Implement systems and procedures capable of monitoring quality standards
8. Evaluate the capability and capacity of systems to meet current and predicted quality needs
9. Select technologies and suppliers capable of meeting current and future quality needs

1. Define the scope of continuous improvement and its relationship with other systems
2. Distinguish between continuous and continual improvement
3. Evaluate a range of approaches to continuous improvement and their underpinning principles
4. Evaluate the implications of staff involvement in continuous improvement
5. Identify the scope of a continuous improvement strategy
6. Devise a strategy capable of evaluating business performance and identifying areas for improvement
7. Establish valid measures and systems for evaluating and collecting information on business performance
8. Foster a culture where people are encouraged to make suggestions for improvement
9. Implement systems capable of measuring business performance and benchmark against historical data
10. Ensure knowledge and improvements align with business objectives and values

1. Analyse standards relating to business risk management and factors influencing different types of risk
2. Evaluate the relationship between risk management, business continuity, and crisis management
3. Evaluate scenario planning and crisis management models and methods of calculating risk probability
4. Analyse the effectiveness of risk monitoring techniques and significance of risk governance structures
5. Review periodically the effectiveness of risk management strategy, policy, and criteria
6. Ensure risk profiles remain current and relevant
7. Develop viable and affordable risk management processes consistent with business needs
8. Develop contingency and business disruption processes commensurate with the degree of risk
9. Integrate risk management processes into operational plans and activities
10. Evaluate risk using valid quantitative and qualitative information
11. Identify areas for improvement and encourage a culture that accepts and manages risk

1. Analyse the development of equality, diversity, and inclusion policies and practices in the workforce
2. Evaluate approaches to equal opportunities and the impact of EDI policy on workforce performance
3. Evaluate methods of managing ethical conflicts and the business benefits of effective EDI practices
4. Evaluate the requirements of legislation, regulation, and codes of practice affecting EDI
5. Identify the extent to which EDI strategies, policies, and practices are fit for purpose
6. Benchmark EDI policies and practices internally and externally to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement
7. Appraise criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of EDI strategies, policies, and practices
8. Devise a communications strategy promoting EDI that covers everyone within the area of responsibility
9. Use appropriate communications media to promote EDI across the organisation
10. Embed EDI policies and practices in business practices and promote a culture where discrimination is challenged

1. Analyse the principles of business change and business process re-engineering
2. Evaluate the concept and application of workflow patterns and usability testing
3. Evaluate a range of modelling tools and factors affecting the evaluation of business processes
4. Evaluate the scope for business process improvement and constraints
5. Generate ideas that meet defined business needs and test proposed processes through modelling
6. Evaluate the feasibility and viability of a proposed process against agreed criteria
7. Establish the degree of overlap between proposed and existing processes and resolve tensions
8. Adhere to organisational policies, legal, and ethical requirements when developing processes
9. Analyse valid information using techniques appropriate to the process being evaluated
10. Assess the cost and benefit of a business process and justify recommendations with evidence

1. Assess the nature of potential stakeholders' interests and needs
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of stakeholder mapping techniques
3. Assess the value of analytical techniques and alliance modelling
4. Evaluate the implications of collaborative relationships for risk and knowledge management
5. Evaluate the implications of collaboration for the supply chain and sustainability of future arrangements
6. Evaluate the components, use, and likely effects of invoking an exit strategy
7. Identify potential organisations likely to complement or enhance the work or reputation of both parties
8. Analyse potential synergies and scope for collaboration and balance benefits against costs and risks
9. Agree mutually acceptable terms of reference and develop a viable stakeholder engagement plan
10. Develop arrangements to manage relationships and evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing collaboration

1. Explain how to keep up to date with technological developments
2. Analyse the requirements of organisational procurement processes
3. Evaluate the implications of technology for business continuity and crisis management plans
4. Evaluate the legal implications of changes to the use of technology
5. Analyse the requirements of a technology strategy
6. Establish evaluation criteria for the use of technology including extent of use, value, efficiency, and quality
7. Evaluate current use of technology and identify scope for improvement including training and new systems
8. Identify the strategic implications of changes to technology and assess associated risks, limitations, and benefits
9. Specify technological requirements and priorities in accordance with organisational technology strategy
10. Recommend technological solutions that meet specified objectives and ensure compatibility with other systems
11. Develop procedures covering all aspects of the technology and ensure users are adequately trained
12. Promote the benefits of technology and use appropriate monitoring techniques; take corrective action as needed

1. Analyse the stages of the development process, product life cycle, and their requirements
2. Explain the requirements of market segmentation and analyse factors affecting buyer behaviour
3. Evaluate the use of market analytical tools when developing new or improved products and/or services
4. Establish criteria to evaluate the need for new or improved products and/or services
5. Evaluate customers' and potential customers' perceptions of the uses, value, and quality of proposed offerings
6. Identify competitor activity that may impact the market for new or improved products and/or services
7. Assess the likely impact of customers' culture and behaviour on potential sales
8. Ensure proposals are consistent with organisational strategy, objectives, and values
9. Assess the costs of developing new or improved products and/or services
10. Carry out viability tests and evaluate the degree of success of new or improved offerings

1. Analyse concepts underpinning strategic marketing and the scope of strategic marketing activities
2. Evaluate the relationship between marketing and other business functions
3. Analyse planning principles involved in developing a marketing strategy
4. Analyse tools to evaluate a strategic marketing plan and the advantages and limitations of marketing strategies
5. Evaluate existing and potential markets against agreed strategic criteria
6. Identify features of actual and potential offerings through evaluation of competitors' products and/or services
7. Evaluate a range of marketing communications frameworks
8. Define marketing messages consistent with strategic objectives, organisational culture, and values
9. Specify communications media likely to reach the identified target customers
10. Integrate marketing communications within operational processes
11. Set pricing strategies consistent with organisational strategy and objectives to optimise sales potential
12. Manage the implementation of marketing strategies, plans, and activities
13. Monitor performance of products/services and subcontractors against agreed success criteria
14. Adapt marketing strategies, plans, and activities in light of feedback or changing circumstances

1. Analyse the value of knowledge management and evaluate advantages and disadvantages of KM models
2. Assess the role of staff in KM strategy development and the nature of knowledge as a strategic asset
3. Characterise different KM approaches and schools of thought
4. Analyse different frameworks and dimensions of knowledge management including push and pull strategies
5. Analyse the use of technology to manage knowledge
6. Identify the scope for creation, development, sharing, and transfer of knowledge
7. Ensure the strategy identifies business-critical knowledge, facilitates sharing, and addresses hindrances and risks
8. Specify standards, processes, and protocols that support knowledge creation, sharing, and protection
9. Implement systems and procedures protecting intellectual property from unauthorised use
10. Evaluate the capability and capacity of existing information, knowledge, and communications systems
11. Select technologies and suppliers capable of meeting current and future knowledge management needs
12. Encourage managers to act as knowledge management role models and use appropriate communications media