About Us

The Cranefield Academy of Knowledge

The Cranefield Academy of Knowledge is a division of Cranefield College and offers a wide range of short online courses. Lessons are conducted using the best available online education technologies. This makes it possible for students to enrol and study from anywhere in the world.

Our Course Content is Developed by Top Academics and Practitioners

Our short courses support many sectors in the economy, and are focused on the leadership and management needs of private and public organisations. Short course content at Cranefield Academy is designed to cover all the important aspects of value chain performance management, including the supply chain and project work.

Our Competitive Edge

Cranefield Academy recognises that employers prefer employees to have job-relevant education and training in order to improve the competence of employees. We recognise that employers also need employees with all necessary skills required in order to be of immediate benefit to their organisations. The most notable accolade received from students is that they can immediately apply the short course knowledge gained, in their work contexts. This ‘practice while you learn’ philosophy is why we believe Cranefield Academy has a profound competitive edge.

Benefits of Studying with
Cranefield Academy

Gain valuable and practical knowledge that enables you to achieve your life’s ambition.
Cranefield Academy’s modern online education technology allows you to comfortably study from home.
High quality recorded classes of all short-course topics available online.
All tests and examinations are online via our virtual learning environment.

Learn more about some of our short courses

Transformational Leadership

In today’s rapidly changing world, transformational leadership is arguably the most important competitive tool. It provides the integrative link between behaviour, structural, and operations strategic dimensions to continuously improve the organisation’s culture and structure in order to perform optimally. It leads to high morale among employees, and a flexible and agile strategy-focused organisation.

Effective Organisational Design

Organisational effectiveness is about “doing the right things”. It implies that the entity must align itself structurally with the external environmental demands. Structure is the vehicle that delivers the purpose of the organisation. It guides the behaviour of the human talent to build collaborative relationships through an appropriate system of authority, policies, rules, regulations and job descriptions.

Structuring Supply Chain and Project Portfolios

Cross-functional process groupings enable organisations to operate in a highly integrative, coordinative, and collaborative manner. Coupled with the art of programme management, cross-functionally structured supply chain and project process groupings, known as portfolios; achieve optimal organisational performance. Governance becomes profoundly important, and the critical role of a Chief Portfolio Officer at the executive level is motivated.

Balanced-Scorecard-based Strategy Implementation

Strategy is developed by a consideration of the organisation’s resources in relation to its environment, the prime purpose being to add value. The Balanced Scorecard describes strategy in uncomplicated terms, so that the organisation’s vision and mission are easily communicated and understood by all. It is profoundly important to identify Critical Success Factors, and associated Key Performance Indicators for measuring the degree to which strategic organisational benefits are achieved.

Structuring the Balanced Scorecard-Programme Management System

Transforming to a knowledge-based learning organisation is essential for purposes of performance, innovation, and improvement. Strategic benefits are best achieved through a system combining the Balanced Scorecard with Programme Management, which acts as the integrative implementation link between corporate, business, and operations strategy. Leaders must be able to develop their organisations into learning entities that prosper from the creation of new knowledge in a systemic way.

Managing Organisational Transformation and Change

Today’s best performing organisations are winners because they adapt effectively and efficiently to the continuous and complex demands of the external environment. To stay competitive, internal and external forces for change that trigger organisational development initiatives, must be identified and continuously monitored. When leading a successful Transformation And Change Programme, strategic management of the organisational development process, the components involved, and overcoming concomitant resistance to change, are critical elements.