Programme Syllabus

Programme Syllabus
In terms of the educational syllabus content, the programme is comparable to a postgraduate executive MBA. Technically, the programme is an undergraduate one and there are no educational pre-requisites for acceptance however, IoD Ireland insists that participants operate at a strategic level in their organisations or shortly expect to be promoted to such a level.

The educational programme consists of five subject areas, each involving one to two days' class learning. Study of the first four subject areas together leads to the award of the IoD Certificate in Company Direction (“Cert IoD”). The fifth subject area is examined separately, leading to the award of the IoD Diploma in Company Direction (“Dip IoD”).

1. The Director’s Role in Strategy & Marketing (3 days – delivered in two sessions)
2. The Role of the Director and the Board (2 days)
3. Finance for Non-Financial Directors (2 days)
4. The Director’s Role in Leading the Organisation (2 days)
5. Developing Board Performance (2 days)

1. The Director’s Role in Strategy and Marketing - 3 days' tuition – delivered as two days primarily on Strategy at the start of the Programme followed by one day primarily on Marketing later on
This course provides an introduction to the key ideas and processes for creating and managing the organisation's overall and marketing strategies. It considers the main approaches to strategic direction and marketing within the organisation, and will assist you in your role of leading the strategic process. It also identifies the critical elements of the strategic process and facilitates their exploration and practice.

Participation in the course will enable you to:

  • Understand what strategy is and how a board uses it to generate value.
  • Appreciate the strategic importance of a clear purpose as provided by vision, mission and values, and effective strategic thinking.
  • Be equipped with tools to help make an effective situation appraisal and evaluate the relationship between the internal and external environments of the organisation
  • Understand that good strategic analysis is essential to good strategy formulation and implementation.
  • Have an understanding of the means by which strategic options may be generated and evaluated to arrive at the strategy that will deliver the vision.
  • Understand the role of the Board in implementing strategy and the part played by marketing. Appreciate the importance of operational capability, its sources and the means by which it can be acquired.
  • Obtain an overview of risk and measurement with respect to strategy implementation.


2. The Role of the Director and the Board - 2 days' tuition
This course is an essential introduction to the role, duties and legal responsibilities of a director and the workings of a board.

Participation on this course will provide the candidate with the knowledge to:

  • Define the legal status of a company
  • Understand the essential differences between direction, management and ownership
  • Analyse the role of the board and identify good practice in the organisation and the running of a board
  • Understand the roles directors play and key director relationships in different types of company and context
  • Examine the board's corporate governance role
  • Define the legal duties and liabilities of individual directors and the board
  • Understand disclosure of information requirements and other associated legal requirements and the law relating to directors and employees and other parties (note Irish delegates are not examined on Company Law)

3. Finance for Non-Financial Directors - 2 days' tuition
This course provides a vital knowledge of the financial terms and concepts needed by all directors in today's business world.

Attending this course will enable you to:

  • Identify the financial role and responsibilities of directors
  • Interpret financial statements in accordance with accounting principles and standards
  • Establish the financial health of a business using accepted financial ratios
  • Distinguish between management accounts and the statutory financial reports of a company
  • Differentiate between the various sources of finance available to a company and their relative advantages and disadvantages
  • Interpret the key components of capital investment Appraisal

4. The Director’s Role in Leading the Organisation – 2 days’ tuition
This course provides a valuable opportunity for Directors to explore strategic leadership issues and board members' roles in successfully implementing the corporate strategy. It considers how directors, individually and collectively, can create a culture and environment which encourages creativity, innovation, energy and employee commitment.

It also assesses how to align and engage resources and key stakeholders in the change process, how decision making and conflict can be handled and addresses how issues such as ethics and corporate responsibility need to be embedded in the strategic narrative. By reviewing alternative approaches and examining best practice techniques, the course provides directors with tools, techniques and ideas which can enhance an organisation's success.

Participation on this course will enable you to:

  • Create a culture which engages others constructively in the business in order to achieve the strategic objectives which add value to the company and to its customers
  • Understand what is actually needed to deliver a successful strategy in terms of decision making, alignment of resources and people development
  • Develop effective methods for implementing strategies or strategic change as an individual leader and as a member of an executive team
  • Align performance monitoring with the need to remain innovative as a means of driving continuous improvement and keeping key stakeholders engaged in taking the organisation forward

5. Developing Board Performance - 2 days' tuition
This module, leading to the award of the IoD Diploma in Company Direction, provides an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge gained from subject areas 1-4 above in a realistic and safe environment. The programme involves peer group support, challenge and stimulation, mirroring in many ways the operation of a board.

This module is intended to simulate a typical boardroom scenario in which, instead of looking at only one aspect of the business (eg Strategy or Finance) one has to make balanced decisions that impact on all areas of the business.  Delegates work , as pretend boards, through an evolving scenario in which a troubled company has to be turned around, later on an acquisition opportunity arises which has to be evaluated, followed by post-acquisition integration issues, with the odd surprise thrown in!

The composition of the “pretend boards” is changed throughout the two days and those who chair meetings are observed and given discreet feedback on their chairing skills.

DETAILED SYLLABUS: The above is an outline of the programme. Shortly after we receive the Registration of Interest form the Programme Director sends enquirers a 12 page detailed syllabus.