University Of North Alabama To Offer New Course In Strategic Doing

Mar. 13, 2015

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Bryan Rachal, University Communications FLORENCE, Ala. - Fresh off the success of the first Strategic Doing workshop, the University of North Alabama will now offer a course on the topic. The course will take place on UNA's campus April 21-23, and will have two options: practitioner training, or practitioner training and certification. The three-day course is designed to help a person implement agile strategies using Strategic Doing, which is a process developed by Ed Morrison, Regional Economic Development Advisor at the Center for Regional Development at Purdue University. Strategic Doing enables people to form collaborations quickly, guiding them toward measurable outcomes, and making adjustments along the way. The process is being used to reinvent and revitalize many regions. Dr. Greg Carnes, dean of UNA's College of Business, said he's pleased that UNA is now able to offer this type of certification course, which is open to the public, especially business and community leaders who are working to assure that their region is robust. "We are proud of our growing relationship with Ed Morrison and the Purdue Center for Regional Development," Carnes said. "Strategic Doing is the methodology behind the Digital Technology Hub projects, including Shoals Big Idea contest, Tech Lions coding camp, 3 Day Startup, Shoals Idea Audition, knowledge economy narratives and broadband mapping. I invite you to come and learn how you can guide collaborations using this innovative process and achieve new levels of success." As mentioned, the course can be taken as a stand-alone or as a stepping stone toward certification. Certification in Strategic Doing involves classroom instruction as well as field work with coaching from Strategic Doing faculty. Cost for the course is $1,275 for practitioner training, and $1,575 for practitioner training and certification. For more information: http://www.una.edu/business/sponsored-events or Janyce Fadden at (256) 765-4413 or jfadden@una.edu ED MORRISON Ed Morrison is the Regional Economic Development Advisor at the Center for Regional Development at Purdue University. For over 20 years, he has conducted strategy projects with economic and workforce developers in the U.S. His work emphasizes the strategic value of focused regional collaborations and open innovation, and network-based models in today's global economy. Morrison developed a new discipline called "Strategic Doing" to accelerate these collaborations. It is now widely used across the U.S., and it's gaining attention internationally. His work won the first Arthur D. Little Award for excellence in economic development presented by the American Economic Development Council. STRATEGIC DOING Strategic Doing enables people in loosely joined, open networks to think and act strategically. Instead of broad visions, they pursue measurable strategic outcomes. Instead of focusing on problems and deficits, they define new opportunities by connecting their assets. Instead of looking for a visionary leader, they recognize that leadership in open networks is a shared responsibility. For more information: http://www.pcrd.purdue.edu/What_We_Do/SD/ PURDUE CENTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PCRD) The Purdue Center for Regional Development will foster Indiana becoming the nation's leader in supporting creative, regional approaches to development, that build on three core values: A voluntary approach; the power of data analysis, ideas and information; and the importance of dialogue, social capital development, and collaborative partnerships. The P CRD supports collaborative regional and multi-institutional approaches to problem solving and development. For more information: http://www.pcrd.purdue.edu/Default.aspx UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and Nursing. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. UNA also operates a renowned collegiate athletic program in NCAA Division II's Gulf South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin. For more information: http://www.una.edu/