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COURSE OUTLINE

On average, it takes 5 hours to complete this course.

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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PART TWO: THE FINANCIALS

Complete in approximately 1.5-2 hours.
 

1. SIMPLIFYING FINANCIAL REPORTS

  • The Big Picture

    • The 3 Most Important Statements and the 5 Business Drivers

    • The Basics of Financial Statements

    • Key Items in a Form 10-K

    • Reading an Annual Report

  • Acumen in Action

    • Navigating the Financials Job-Aid

    • CEO Insights into Financial Statements

  • Complete This Lesson

    • Acumen in Action Workbook

    • Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Financials

 

Sections 2 – 4 highlight each of the 3 financial statements through a 3-lesson format:

  • Tracking Profit, Assets, Cash

  • Acumen in Action

  • Complete This Lesson

 

2. THE INCOME STATEMENT

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Statement’s Purpose & Equation

    • Statement Breakdown in a Matter of Minutes

    • In-Depth Walkthrough of the Statement

    • CEO Insights into The Income Statement

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Income Statement

 

3. THE BALANCE SHEET

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Statement’s Purpose & Equation

    • Statement Breakdown in a Matter of Minutes

    • In-Depth Walkthrough of the Statement

    • CEO Insights into The Balance Sheet

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Balance Sheet

 

4. THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

  • Topics covered in this section include:

    • Statement’s Purpose & Equation

    • Statement Breakdown in a Matter of Minutes

    • In-Depth Walkthrough of the Statement

    • CEO Insights into The Statement of Cash Flows

    • Acumen in Action Workbook and Big Picture Quick Quiz on The Statement of Cash Flows

 

5. FINISH THE COURSE

  • Move to Action

    • Company Analysis Worksheet

    • Securing Your Seat at the Table: Tips for Applying your Business Acumen

    • Course Evaluation

    • Course Completion and Certification

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