Great business instinct can be learned. Our Business Acumen course explores the knowledge, skills and understanding required to avoid business pitfalls and improve business insight.

Course details

Duration: 3 days

Next available course

17th February 2025

Virtual Classroom

£1,395 +VAT

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28th April 2025

Virtual Classroom

£1,395 +VAT

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9th June 2025

Virtual Classroom

£1,395 +VAT

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15th October 2025

Virtual Classroom

£1,395 +VAT

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Great business instinct can be learned. Our Business Acumen course explores the knowledge, skills and understanding required to avoid business pitfalls and improve business insight.

Course details

Subscription options:

Great business instinct can be learned. Our Business Acumen course explores the knowledge, skills and understanding required to avoid business pitfalls and improve business insight.

Course details

Duration: 3 days

Next available course

Please contact the team on 01844 211665 for availability

The Business Acumen course is for anyone interested in the knowledge and skills required to develop business acumen, in particular Business Service Designers (including Business Designers and Service Designers); Business Analysts; Business and Enterprise Architects; Solution Architects and User Researchers. UX Designers, Product Owners and Managers will also find the course beneficial.

The Business Acumen course covers the knowledge, skills, understanding and perspective needed to develop good business acumen. Topics include leadership and decision making skills; an understanding of business models, a growth mindset; financial and data literacy and more.

Upon the completion of this workshop, candidates will be able to:

•    Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and purpose of business acumen.
•    Identify and describe alternative business architecture blueprints.
•    Analyse the internal and external ecosystem.
•    Understand the elements contained within core financial reports.
•    Conduct investment appraisal.
•    Explain the link between business agility and performance management.

Yes. During this three-day course you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the examination leading to the A4Q Certificate in Business Service Design. This is one of the mandatory modules for the new internationally recognised A4Q Service Designer qualification.

All delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or eLearning course, sit the examination (ratified by global certification body iSQI) remotely using an online proctoring service. This examination consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

Delegates attending the Business Acumen course are provided with a clear and comprehensive manual that offers a step-by-step guide through the entire course content. Each delegate attending a virtual classroom course is sent a physical copy of the manual to their home address before the course start date. An electronic version of the manual is also provided to every delegate.

The Business Acumen course forms one part of AssistKD’s Service Design training programme which includes courses on CX Analysis, Business Service Design and Design Thinking. It is one of the elective modules for the new internationally recognised A4Q Certified Service Designer qualification.

 

Business Acumen (a three-day course)

Course Content

  • The range of knowledge/skills required to possess business acumen
  • Types of business model and the differences between them
  • The concept of a values driven organisation
  • The importance of a growth mindset for senior leadership teams
  • Factors relevant to organisational decision-making
  • Generic strategies for growth
  • Competitive strategies
  • How to evaluate product portfolio using the Growth Share Matrix
  • Defining the term ‘profit’ across different types of organisation
  • Understanding pricing and costing approaches
  • How to evaluate financial reports
  • How to analyse business proposals
  • Using data to inform business decision-making

How do AssistKD’s virtual classroom courses work?

AssistKD’s virtual courses are conducted live and online in a ‘virtual’ classroom space via Microsoft Teams. 
On each day of the course, we ask delegates to log on in time for a 9am start. The courses end at 4.30pm. An hour is ring-fenced for lunch, but timings can vary.


Designed to be interactive, responsive and engaging, our virtual (live) courses are led by trainers who are experts in their fields, with real-life industry experience. 
The benefit of the virtual classroom is that delegates enjoy all the benefits of ‘in-real-time' training, but with no travel requirements or overnight stays. 


Regular comfort breaks, team exercises and break-out sessions keep delegates focused and reinforce learning. 
The courses allow learners to develop their professional toolkits.

Can you attend virtual classroom courses from outside the UK?

Yes, however you will be issued with a digital course manual in advance of the course, not a printed manual. 

When will I receive my joining instructions?

You will receive joining instructions two weeks before the start of your course. One week before the course you will receive detailed instructions on how to log on.

I am concerned about logging on, is there support available?

If you have concerns about logging on and your technology, it is best to address these prior to the day of the course. We can offer you a test call at a time that suits you. To request this please contact support@assistkd.com

I have additional needs, can they be accommodated?

Please provide us with full details of any additional needs in advance of the course so that we can work with you to accommodate them. Please contact enquiries@assistkd.com

When will I receive my course manual?

You will receive your course manual, in both printed and digital form, two weeks before the start of your course.

Can you accommodate a last-minute booking?

Yes, provided there is availability.

Do you offer discounted prices if I am taking more than one course?

Yes, please contact enquires@assistkd.com

What happens if I need to reschedule, do I have to pay twice?

If you need to reschedule, to avoid a cancellation fee please give 10 working days’ notice by contacting enquiries@assistkd.com.

Do the courses run on consecutive days?

Yes. Courses which last for more than one day are delivered on consecutive days from the start date indicated. These are on working days, during Monday to Friday.

Do you offer courses over the weekend?

Our virtual (live) classroom and face-to-face classroom courses run from Monday to Friday only.

Is the exam taken during the actual course?

No. The exam can be taken on a date and time of your choice. You will be provided with exam registration details before the start of your course. We recommend that you take the exam within two weeks of the end of your course, while the knowledge is fresh.

When will I receive my exam results and certificate?

Exams will be taken online and you will receive a provisional result upon completion. Then, approximately 24 hours after the exam this will be confirmed via email and you will be supplied with a link to download your certificate.
 

Quote

“Informative, relevant and insightful. This was genuinely a fantastic course and I can tell how much hard work has gone into putting it all together. Thank you.” 

- ROSIE LYONS