ICQ LEVEL 7 · 603/2815/0
iCQ Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management
A focused qualification in strategic business planning and implementation.
Qualification structure
15 credits · 150 total qualification hours · 83 guided learning hours
10 credits from two mandatory units and 5 more credits from optional units.
Portfolio of evidence · Pass
Mandatory units
| iCQ unit reference | Unit | Level | GLH | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A/506/2077 | Execute a strategic business plan | 7 | 29 | 5 |
| K/506/2074 | Develop a strategic business plan | 7 | 31 | 5 |
Optional units available
Choose optional units that meet the credit and level rules; learners do not take every optional unit.
| iCQ unit reference | Unit | Level | GLH | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A/506/2080 | Manage strategic human resources | 7 | 23 | 5 |
| D/506/2055 | Design business processes | 5 | 23 | 5 |
| D/506/2959 | Lead the development of a knowledge management strategy | 7 | 33 | 7 |
| F/506/2064 | Optimise the use of technology | 5 | 29 | 6 |
| F/506/2078 | Establish organisational governance controls | 7 | 26 | 4 |
| F/506/2114 | Lead the development of a continuous improvement strategy | 7 | 28 | 5 |
| J/506/2079 | Shape organisational culture and values | 7 | 35 | 5 |
| J/506/2082 | Obtain financial resources | 7 | 20 | 6 |
| J/506/2101 | Lead the development of a quality strategy | 7 | 20 | 4 |
| L/506/2293 | Manage strategic marketing activities | 5 | 28 | 7 |
| R/506/2053 | Promote equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion | 5 | 26 | 5 |
| R/506/2117 | Provide strategic leadership and direction | 7 | 39 | 6 |
| T/506/2059 | Develop and manage collaborative relationships with other organisations | 5 | 28 | 5 |
| Y/506/2068 | Manage product and/or service development | 5 | 23 | 5 |
| Y/506/2071 | Develop a business strategy | 7 | 41 | 6 |
Unit titles, references, levels, credits and GLH come from the iCQ qualification document. For full learning outcomes and assessment criteria, open the official PDF.
MCA STUDY GUIDE
Key terms for each unit
Open a unit to read plain-English explanations. The terms support study; they are not assessment criteria. Your assessor will confirm your registered optional units and the current iCQ specification.
A/506/2077 · MandatoryExecute a strategic business plan
- Implementation plan: A sequenced set of actions, owners and dates that puts the approved strategy into practice.
- Milestone: A defined point used to check whether delivery is on schedule.
- Performance indicator: A measure that shows progress towards a strategic objective.
K/506/2074 · MandatoryDevelop a strategic business plan
- Strategic objective: A measurable long-term result the organisation intends to achieve.
- Environmental analysis: A review of external conditions and internal capability that informs choices.
- Option appraisal: A structured comparison of possible courses of action.
A/506/2080 · OptionalManage strategic human resources
- Workforce planning: Forecasting the roles and skills needed to deliver future strategy.
- Capability gap: The difference between current skills and future requirements.
- Succession planning: Preparing people for roles whose vacancy would create significant risk.
D/506/2055 · OptionalDesign business processes
- Business process: A sequence of activities that produces a service or outcome.
- Process mapping: A visual record of steps, handovers and decisions in a process.
- Bottleneck: A step that limits the flow or speed of the whole process.
D/506/2959 · OptionalLead the development of a knowledge management strategy
- Knowledge management: Creating, organising and sharing useful organisational knowledge.
- Tacit knowledge: Know-how held through experience that may be difficult to document.
- Knowledge transfer: Passing critical understanding and methods between people or teams.
F/506/2064 · OptionalOptimise the use of technology
- Digital capability: The skills, systems and data needed to use technology effectively.
- Interoperability: The ability of systems to exchange and use information.
- Technology governance: Oversight of technology value, security, accessibility and risk.
F/506/2078 · OptionalEstablish organisational governance controls
- Governance control: A rule or mechanism that supports responsible decisions and oversight.
- Delegated authority: Defined permission to make decisions within stated limits.
- Assurance: Evidence that controls and processes are working as intended.
F/506/2114 · OptionalLead the development of a continuous improvement strategy
- Continuous improvement: Ongoing changes tested against evidence of better outcomes.
- Root cause analysis: Finding underlying causes of a problem rather than treating symptoms.
- Improvement measure: A defined indicator used to judge whether a change helped.
J/506/2079 · OptionalShape organisational culture and values
- Organisational culture: Shared assumptions and behaviours that shape everyday work.
- Values: Principles that guide decisions and expected conduct.
- Culture indicator: Observable evidence of how people actually behave and experience work.
J/506/2082 · OptionalObtain financial resources
- Cash flow: The timing of money entering and leaving the organisation.
- Funding source: A route by which finance is obtained for an activity or investment.
- Investment appraisal: Comparing costs, benefits, risks and alternatives before committing resources.
J/506/2101 · OptionalLead the development of a quality strategy
- Quality strategy: The organisation-wide approach to standards, assurance and improvement.
- Quality assurance: Planned checks that provide confidence standards are being met.
- Service outcome: The result experienced by a customer, learner or beneficiary.
L/506/2293 · OptionalManage strategic marketing activities
- Market segmentation: Grouping customers or audiences with different needs.
- Value proposition: The benefit an organisation promises to a chosen audience.
- Marketing measure: An indicator of reach, response, conversion or retention.
R/506/2053 · OptionalPromote equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion
- Equality of opportunity: Fair access to participation and progression.
- Inclusion: Practice that enables people to participate and be heard.
- Reasonable adjustment: A change to reduce disadvantage for a disabled person where required.
R/506/2117 · OptionalProvide strategic leadership and direction
- Strategic direction: The long-term priorities and choices guiding the organisation.
- Stakeholder: A person or group affected by, or able to influence, a decision.
- Leadership accountability: Responsibility for decisions, resources and results at senior level.
T/506/2059 · OptionalDevelop and manage collaborative relationships with other organisations
- Collaboration agreement: A shared account of purpose, roles, resources and decisions.
- Partner governance: How organisations agree oversight, accountability and escalation.
- Shared outcome: A result that partners work together to achieve.
Y/506/2068 · OptionalManage product and/or service development
- Service development: Designing or improving an offering in response to needs and evidence.
- User need: A requirement or problem experienced by the intended audience.
- Pilot: A limited test used to learn before a wider launch.
Y/506/2071 · OptionalDevelop a business strategy
- Competitive position: How the organisation differs from alternatives for its audience.
- Strategic choice: A deliberate selection of priorities and trade-offs.
- Scenario planning: Testing strategy against several plausible future conditions.
Entry and assessment access
MCA checks your management experience, subject knowledge, literacy and support needs before enrolment. The NVQ Diploma requires access to strategic management responsibilities and authentic workplace evidence. For the Certificate, agree the evidence context for the selected units with MCA. Current registration availability is confirmed before enrolment.
Study arrangements, duration and fees
MCA offers tutor-supported online and blended learning. Your agreed study plan sets the tutorial format, workplace visits or teaching observations, independent study and review arrangements. Practical assessment cannot be replaced by online study alone.
Start dates, fees, payment options and the planned completion period are confirmed in writing before enrolment. Qualification learning hours describe the study requirement; they are not a promise of a fixed calendar duration. Ask MCA for a personalised quotation and timetable.