Board Oversight of Strategy (BOS)

Understand the importance of director engagement in oversight of strategy and asking the right questions throughout the process.

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Developed in partnership with CPA Canada, based on CPA Canada’s Overseeing Strategy: A Framework for Boards of Directors* this course will help directors constructively engage in the strategic oversight process. What is the right time and the right way to be involved as a director? How does the board engage, balancing its oversight role with management’s ownership? Through exercises and case studies, participants will learn how to apply the framework in various circumstances that an organization may face, such as growth, volatility, new competitive markets or other challenges.

*(reprinted with permission from Overseeing Strategy: A Framework for Board of Directors, ©2015, John E. Caldwell, CPA, CA/Ken Smith, PhD, MBA, CMC, ICD.D by Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. All rights reserved by copyright owner.)

Note: this is a course about strategic oversight and does not teach strategy development.

Price

ICD.Ds: $950 plus applicable taxes
ICD Members: $1050 plus applicable taxes
Non-Members: $1,500 plus applicable taxes

Non-Members who apply for admission into any short course will receive a one-year ICD membership (value of $450).

Refund Policy

Current Offerings

City	Course	Application Deadline	Deadline Time	Course Offering	Course Time
Online	BOS 20	March 25, 2025	4:30 PM ET	April 15, 2025	10:00 AM to 2:15 PM ET

More about the course

After completing all components of the course, participants will:

Recognize why boards must engage early and throughout the strategy development and implementation process.
Analyze typical and appropriate director oversight roles, activities and key steps at all stages of the strategy oversight process and understand how and when to engage.
Identify the questions, red flags and issues that are relevant to each stage of the strategy oversight process.
Simulate participation in director oversight activities, and ask the right questions in different situations reflecting various business environments (i.e. growth, new competition and an emerging problem).
Demonstrate how to engage constructively, without undermining management’s ownership of the strategic plan.
Observe how different strategy situations call for different planning processes.
Recognize the importance of board oversight of strategy to shareholder and stakeholder value.
Understand the intersection of strategy and risk to identify where strategic opportunity lies.
Identify how to align on what is existential to the organization.
Qualify for 8 CEUs toward the annual requirement to retain their ICD.D designation.

Participants will develop practical skills and confidence in applying a board oversight framework to improve strategy discussion at the board table, ensuring that the board is actively engaged in oversight while allowing management to retain the necessary ownership of the strategy.

This program uses a blended online learning structure that weaves together best practices in adult education with opportunities to engage with peers.

The model includes:

Independent online learning through a course portal (four to six hours)

This is a critical component of the course (and includes an e-learning module, videos, readings and more). It will prepare participants for effective participation in the live session and ensure they are ready to apply learnings from the course to their board work. Participants will get access to these materials two weeks prior to the live session.The required independent learning should be completed prior to the live session at a pace that works best for each participant. Access to the course portal is available for 30 days after the live session.

Live, instructor-led session (approximately four hours)

This instructor-led online session will focus on the application of concepts covered through independent learning. Attendance at the live session is required for successful course completion. The live session may include class discussions, breakout group discussions and exercises, Q & A with instructors and other experts, and live polling.

Supplementary resources and tools

Participants will receive optional supplementary resources to augment the required components of their independent learning materials.

Learning sustainment and engagement opportunities

Following course completion, participants will be invited to join an Alumni Portal, becoming part of a community where they gain access to tools and resources to help apply course learnings in real-life settings. They will also have opportunities to engage in discussion forums with course peers to exchange questions, ideas and experiences and apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills.