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Unlock Your Business Potential with Digital Transformation

In an age where digital technology is rapidly reshaping the business landscape, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face unique challenges and opportunities. This course is specifically designed to guide SMEs in understanding, planning, and implementing effective digital strategies.

That's why Business Canterbury, in collaboration with Dr Elsamari Botha (MBA Programme Director and Associate Professor at the UC Business School), is offering two workshops dedicated to guiding Canterbury businesses through the digital transformation process. With a pragmatic approach, these sessions are designed to equip business owners and their staff with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the digital age.

Session 1: Developing Your Digital Strategy

- Gain an overview of the digital transformation landscape, including new technologies that may impact your business.

- Understand how AI might impact your business, and how this technology can be leveraged.

- Learn to assess your company's digital maturity and align it with business needs.

- Set clear goals and objectives for your digital journey.

- Understand the critical components of a digital strategy, including technology integration, people management, and process optimization.

- Understand the importance of data in transforming your business and evaluate different options to managing data in your organisation.

By the end of this session, you'll have a clearer vision of your digital journey and a strategic plan to navigate it successfully.

Session 2: Operationalising Your Digital Strategy

Once you have a strategy, the next step is to bring it to life. This session focuses on:

- Discover how to implement your digital strategy effectively, balancing technology, people, and processes.

- Effectively troubleshoot digital projects “gone wrong” and develop mitigating strategies for these.

- Explore good practices and navigate potential unintended consequences.

- Embrace change management techniques to facilitate smooth transitions.

- Engage stakeholders effectively and communicate the 'why' and 'how' of digital changes.

Attendees will be equipped with the practical know-how to execute their digital strategies with confidence and precision.

Participants will leave with a comprehensive understanding of how to develop and operationalize a digital strategy that is not only robust but also flexible enough to adapt to the evolving digital world. Equip your business with the knowledge and tools to not just survive but thrive in the digital era. Specifically:

- Understand the digital maturity of your business.

- Develop a digital vision for your SME by leveraging your unique value proposition, operating model and business model.

- Understand the fundamentals of developing a digital strategy for your business.

- Create an implementation framework that considers the people, processes and infrastructure of your organisation.

Do stakeholder mapping in order to create a change strategy for the successful implementation of your digital strategy.

This course is ideal for SME business owners, managers, and key decision-makers who are looking to navigate the digital landscape effectively. It's also highly beneficial for professionals responsible for driving digital initiatives within their organizations.

Understanding the bigger picture is crucial, and through collaboration and proactive measures, Christchurch businesses can not only adapt but excel in the digital era. We encourage all SMEs to take advantage of these learning and development sessions to support your digital transformation endeavours.

Associate Professor Elsamari Botha is the MBA Director at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and an extraordinary associate professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa. With 15 years of consulting experience and starting an EdTech platform, Elsamari’s research focuses on adopting and monetising new technologies in organisations and digital strategy development with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence. With a PhD in Industrial Economics and Management from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Elsamari has published in leading international journals.