A tailored course, built for your situation
Modern Operating-Model Design for Senior Leaders
Master the architecture of adaptive organizations with implementation-grade frameworks
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Leaders are expected to deliver transformation but lack a structured way to design how the organization actually works day-to-day.
The situation this course is for
Even with strong strategy and vision, many initiatives fail because the operating model isn't engineered for execution. Misaligned teams, unclear decision rights, and rigid structures slow response time and increase delivery risk. The gap isn't ambition, it's operational design.
Who this is for
Senior leaders in business, technology, and operations roles driving transformation, scaling platforms, or leading cross-functional units in complex environments.
Who this is not for
Individual contributors without decision-making authority, entry-level managers, or those seeking quick-fix productivity tips.
What you walk away with
- Design an operating model that aligns strategy, structure, and execution
- Map capabilities and decision rights to reduce friction and accelerate delivery
- Integrate governance without creating bureaucracy
- Orchestrate resources dynamically across functions and domains
- Apply implementation templates to real organizational challenges
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Foundations of Modern Operating Models
Define the components, principles, and evolution of operating models in complex organizations.
12 chapters in this module
- What is an operating model?
- Historical shifts in organizational design
- The role of strategy alignment
- Operating model vs. business model
- Core dimensions: structure, process, people, technology
- Common failure patterns and root causes
- The shift from static to adaptive models
- Case study: Financial services transformation
- Case study: Healthcare platform integration
- Case study: Tech scale-up scaling sustainably
- Assessing organizational readiness
- Setting success criteria
Module 2. Strategic Alignment and Context Mapping
Align the operating model to strategic intent and external environment.
12 chapters in this module
- Translating strategy into operational requirements
- Environmental scanning for operating model design
- Stakeholder expectation mapping
- Regulatory and compliance context integration
- Customer journey alignment
- Value chain analysis
- Strategic risk profiling
- Horizon planning integration
- Portfolio alignment techniques
- Balancing innovation and execution
- Using scenario planning in design
- Validating strategic fit
Module 3. Capability-Based Design
Structure the organization around enduring capabilities, not silos.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining core, enabling, and emerging capabilities
- Capability maturity assessment
- Mapping capabilities to business outcomes
- Ownership and accountability frameworks
- Cross-functional capability teams
- Capability investment prioritization
- Lifecycle management of capabilities
- Integrating digital and human capabilities
- Scaling capabilities across geographies
- Capability interdependencies and orchestration
- Measuring capability performance
- Capability evolution planning
Module 4. Organizational Structure and Governance
Design agile, accountable structures with clear governance.
12 chapters in this module
- Centralized vs. decentralized models
- Hub-and-spoke design patterns
- Networked and matrix structures
- Dual operating models (core vs. innovation)
- Defining governance bodies and mandates
- Decision rights frameworks
- Escalation protocols and feedback loops
- Board-level engagement models
- Compliance integration in governance
- Performance oversight mechanisms
- Adaptive governance for changing conditions
- Avoiding governance overload
Module 5. Process Architecture and Flow Design
Engineer end-to-end processes for speed, quality, and adaptability.
12 chapters in this module
- Value stream mapping fundamentals
- Identifying process bottlenecks
- Designing for flow efficiency
- Standardization vs. contextual adaptation
- Integrating automation and AI
- Process ownership models
- Cross-system integration patterns
- Designing for exception handling
- Feedback-driven process improvement
- Measuring process health
- Scaling processes across units
- Process lifecycle management
Module 6. People, Roles, and Talent Strategy
Align talent models, roles, and development to the operating model.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing future-ready roles
- Skills mapping and gap analysis
- Talent acquisition strategies
- Career path redesign
- Performance management integration
- Incentive and reward alignment
- Distributed team leadership
- Hybrid and remote workforce models
- Upskilling at scale
- Culture and behavioral expectations
- Leadership development pipelines
- Succession planning integration
Module 7. Technology and Data Enablement
Leverage technology and data as core enablers of operating model performance.
12 chapters in this module
- Technology architecture alignment
- Data governance and ownership
- API-first and composable design
- Cloud operating models
- Data-driven decision making frameworks
- Integration patterns across systems
- Security by design principles
- Scalability and resilience planning
- Vendor and partner ecosystem management
- Technology investment prioritization
- Modern IT operating models
- Balancing innovation and stability
Module 8. Financial and Resource Orchestration
Align budgeting, funding, and resource allocation to dynamic needs.
12 chapters in this module
- Beyond annual budgeting: adaptive funding models
- Cost transparency and attribution
- Resource pooling and allocation
- Capacity planning techniques
- Zero-based budgeting integration
- Value-based funding decisions
- Cross-unit investment trade-offs
- Financial accountability frameworks
- Measuring ROI of operating model changes
- Operating model cost benchmarking
- Managing fixed vs. variable costs
- Scenario-based financial modeling
Module 9. Change Adoption and Transition Planning
Design and execute transitions with minimal disruption.
12 chapters in this module
- Stakeholder engagement planning
- Communication strategy design
- Pilot and phased rollout models
- Training and enablement programs
- Resistance detection and mitigation
- Change network activation
- Measuring adoption and sentiment
- Feedback integration loops
- Transition governance
- Risk management in change
- Sustaining momentum post-launch
- Lessons from failed transitions
Module 10. Performance Measurement and Evolution
Define metrics and feedback systems to evolve the operating model.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing operating model KPIs
- Leading vs. lagging indicators
- Balanced scorecard adaptation
- Real-time performance dashboards
- Feedback from customers and employees
- Benchmarking against peers
- Continuous improvement cycles
- Adaptive review rhythms
- Trigger-based model updates
- Post-mortem and retrospective practices
- Scaling improvements across units
- Innovation in measurement design
Module 11. Operating Models in Regulated Environments
Apply modern design principles in highly regulated sectors.
12 chapters in this module
- Compliance as a design constraint
- Audit readiness integration
- Regulatory change response models
- Risk control integration
- Documentation and traceability
- Third-party oversight frameworks
- Incident response alignment
- Regulatory reporting automation
- Balancing agility and compliance
- Case study: Banking transformation
- Case study: Healthcare compliance
- Case study: Public sector modernization
Module 12. Implementation Playbook and Real-World Application
Apply all components using a structured, customizable implementation guide.
12 chapters in this module
- Using the implementation playbook
- Customizing for your context
- Stakeholder alignment workshop design
- Capability roadmap creation
- Governance setup checklist
- Process design templates
- Technology integration guide
- Talent model adaptation
- Financial model calibration
- Change rollout planning
- Performance tracking setup
- Ongoing evolution framework
How this maps to your situation
- Designing a new operating model from scratch
- Modernizing an existing operating model
- Integrating operating models post-merger
- Scaling an operating model across regions or business units
Before vs. after
Before
Operating model decisions are reactive, fragmented, and poorly aligned, leading to execution delays and misaligned teams.
After
You lead with a coherent, adaptable operating model that accelerates delivery, aligns stakeholders, and evolves with strategic needs.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 3-4 hours per module, designed for flexible, self-paced learning around executive schedules.
If nothing changes
Without a deliberate operating model, even the best strategies stall in execution, resources remain misaligned, and transformation efforts fail to deliver at scale.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic leadership courses or academic frameworks, this program delivers implementation-grade tools, real-world templates, and a structured playbook used by senior leaders in complex organizations.
Frequently asked
Who is this course designed for?
Senior leaders in business, technology, and operations roles who are responsible for designing, evolving, or executing organizational strategy at scale.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, a certificate is issued upon completion of all modules and assessments.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3-4 hours per module, designed for flexible, self-paced learning around executive schedules..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours