Critical skills for strategic decision-making using AI

This is a comprehensive supplemental course designed to extend the widely acclaimed Critical Skills for Strategic Decision-Making program.  Participants should have completed the original six-part Critical Skills course (or have equivalent knowledge) as a prerequisite, as this program builds directly upon its core frameworks in forecasting, budgeting, what-if analysis and reporting.

This eight-part course explores how artificial intelligence – including large language models, AI agents and generative AI tools – can be practically applied to enhance strategic financial decision making across the business planning cycle and operations in general.

Key Benefits

• Gain a solid foundational understanding of AI, machine learning and generative AI concepts relevant to finance and business strategy
• Learn to apply AI tools to accelerate financial analysis, variance analysis, ratio analysis and cost modelling
• Enhance budgeting and forecasting processes with AI-assisted techniques for greater objectivity, effectiveness and efficiency
• Strengthen risk assessment and what-if analysis through AI-powered simulations and scenario modelling
• Improve investment appraisal and valuation decision making using AI-augmented methodologies
• Build effective, AI-assisted dashboards, reports and data storytelling for stakeholder communication
• Develop practical prompt engineering skills to extract maximum value from AI tools in a business context.

Course Outline

• Overview: Introduction to AI, machine learning, deep learning, large language models (LLMs), AI agents and key concepts such as tokens, prompts and memory
• Strategic Frameworks: Applying AI to SWOT, PESTLE, Porter's Five Forces, BCG Matrix, Ansoff Matrix, Value Chain Analysis and the Balanced Scorecard
• Decision Framing: Structuring strategic options analysis; turning insights into action with effective prompts; balancing quantitative and qualitative considerationsFinancial Analysis: Leveraging AI across variance analysis, cost-volume-profit analysis, activity-based costing, ratio analysis and capital expenditure modelling
• Budgeting and Forecasting: AI-assisted top-down, bottom-up, incremental and zero-based budgeting; cash flow management; inventory optimisation; lease-vs-buy decisions
• Risk and What-If? Analysis: AI-driven risk evaluation, simulation techniques and scenario / sensitivity interpretations
  Valuation and Investment: AI-supported present value analysis, WACC, CAPM and valuation methodologies
• Reporting and Communication: Crafting compelling narratives with AI; automated dashboards and chart selection; aligning KPIs, CSFs and periodicity to audience needs.

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for finance professionals, analysts, FP&A practitioners, management accountants, business planners and senior decision makers who have completed Critical Skills for Strategic Decision Making and wish to understand how AI can augment their existing strategic skill set.  It is equally relevant for consultants, CFO office teams, and anyone responsible for budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis or strategic reporting who wants to stay ahead of AI-driven transformation and other digital transformations in the finance function.

Prerequisite
Critical Skills for Strategic Decision Making (or equivalent experience).