Training Module

Leadership & Policy Foundations

Understand leadership responsibilities in management systems and how top management sets clear policy direction and accountability

Training Module

Leadership & Policy Foundations

Understand leadership responsibilities in management systems and how top management sets clear policy direction and accountability

Training Module

Leadership & Policy Foundations

Understand leadership responsibilities in management systems and how top management sets clear policy direction and accountability

Executive leader addressing an audience, symbolizing leadership accountability, policy direction, and visible commitment in management system governance.

Is your leadership commitment visible in decisions or only on paper?

Move beyond administrative approvals to a practical engagement model where top management sets clear direction and maintains accountable oversight of the management system.

Executive leader addressing an audience, symbolizing leadership accountability, policy direction, and visible commitment in management system governance.

Is your leadership commitment visible in decisions or only on paper?

Move beyond administrative approvals to a practical engagement model where top management sets clear direction and maintains accountable oversight of the management system.

Executive leader addressing an audience, symbolizing leadership accountability, policy direction, and visible commitment in management system governance.

Is your leadership commitment visible in decisions or only on paper?

Move beyond administrative approvals to a practical engagement model where top management sets clear direction and maintains accountable oversight of the management system.

Training module overview

Training module overview

Training module overview

Many management systems struggle with "paper compliance" because leadership intent remains disconnected from operational priorities and resource allocation.

This module addresses the gap between formal system ownership and active management commitment by clarifying the practical responsibilities of top management in a governance context. Participants learn why visible leadership makes or breaks system effectiveness and how to structure a credible policy direction that serves as a management signal rather than a document exercise.

Many management systems struggle with "paper compliance" because leadership intent remains disconnected from operational priorities and resource allocation.

This module addresses the gap between formal system ownership and active management commitment by clarifying the practical responsibilities of top management in a governance context. Participants learn why visible leadership makes or breaks system effectiveness and how to structure a credible policy direction that serves as a management signal rather than a document exercise.

Applicable environments

This module is applicable across a wide range of management systems and organisational contexts. The concepts are not tied to a specific ISO standard and are used wherever organisations need clear, workable processes, defined ownership, and embedded controls.

It is commonly applied in quality, information security, environmental, and other ISO-based management systems, as well as in non-certified environments that require structured, auditable operations.

Target audience

Target audience

Target audience

  • Management system implementers and coordinators

  • Executives and department heads accountable for management system performance

  • Those responsible for processes, policies, assets, risks, and controls related to a management system

  • Auditors seeking insights into management-side best practice (not audit technique)

  • Management consultants working with management system design, governance, or improvement

  • Management system implementers and coordinators

  • Executives and department heads accountable for management system performance

  • Those responsible for processes, policies, assets, risks, and controls related to a management system

  • Auditors seeking insights into management-side best practice (not audit technique)

  • Management consultants working with management system design, governance, or improvement

Decision support

Is this module for you?

It is a good fit if you…

  • are part of top management or act on behalf of leadership.

  • want to move from delegated “system ownership” to visible, credible leadership commitment.

  • struggle with policies that exist formally but do not guide decisions.

  • experience gaps between stated commitments, day-to-day behaviour, and what audits evidence.

  • want leadership intent to translate into direction, accountability, and follow-through.

  • are part of top management or act on behalf of leadership.

  • want to move from delegated “system ownership” to visible, credible leadership commitment.

  • struggle with policies that exist formally but do not guide decisions.

  • experience gaps between stated commitments, day-to-day behaviour, and what audits evidence.

  • want leadership intent to translate into direction, accountability, and follow-through.

If most of the points above apply, this module is likely a good fit.

It may not be the best fit if you…

  • already have clear, lived leadership commitments.

  • have no mandate or interest in influencing leadership commitments, policies, or objectives.

  • need detailed operational process design or control implementation.

  • are looking for an audit- or clause-focused walkthrough.

  • already have clear, lived leadership commitments.

  • have no mandate or interest in influencing leadership commitments, policies, or objectives.

  • need detailed operational process design or control implementation.

  • are looking for an audit- or clause-focused walkthrough.

Agenda

Agenda

Agenda

  • Why leadership makes or breaks system effectiveness

  • What “commitment” looks like in practice

  • Policy as management direction, not just a document task

  • Roles and accountability around policy direction

  • Evidence and credibility without “paper policies”

  • Interfaces

  • Technology as an enabler

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

  • Why leadership makes or breaks system effectiveness

  • What “commitment” looks like in practice

  • Policy as management direction, not just a document task

  • Roles and accountability around policy direction

  • Evidence and credibility without “paper policies”

  • Interfaces

  • Technology as an enabler

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

  • Why leadership makes or breaks system effectiveness

  • What “commitment” looks like in practice

  • Policy as management direction, not just a document task

  • Roles and accountability around policy direction

  • Evidence and credibility without “paper policies”

  • Interfaces

  • Technology as an enabler

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Key outcomes

  • Describe the practical responsibilities of top management for an effective management system beyond simple document approvals

  • Recognise typical paper compliance patterns and diagnose why leadership commitment is not landing in practice

  • Distinguish policy direction as leadership intent from objectives and operational controls to maintain boundary discipline

  • Describe the practical responsibilities of top management for an effective management system beyond simple document approvals

  • Recognise typical paper compliance patterns and diagnose why leadership commitment is not landing in practice

  • Distinguish policy direction as leadership intent from objectives and operational controls to maintain boundary discipline

Additional capabilities

  • Assess whether leadership signals and decisions are coherent with stated policy direction

  • Define a pragmatic engagement model between implementers and top management to sustain visible commitment

  • Identify credible evidence of leadership commitment for governance discussions without relying on document volume

  • Assess whether leadership signals and decisions are coherent with stated policy direction

  • Define a pragmatic engagement model between implementers and top management to sustain visible commitment

  • Identify credible evidence of leadership commitment for governance discussions without relying on document volume

Additional benefits

Additional benefits

Additional benefits

Learning materials

  • Slide deck

  • Participant workbook

Templates & tools

Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.

  • Leadership commitment signals checklist

  • Policy direction coherence worksheet (principle-level alignment check)

  • Leadership engagement plan (touchpoints, responsibilities, follow-through prompts)

  • Workshop notes template (observations, misalignments, agreed next actions)

  • Leadership commitment signals checklist

  • Policy direction coherence worksheet (principle-level alignment check)

  • Leadership engagement plan (touchpoints, responsibilities, follow-through prompts)

  • Workshop notes template (observations, misalignments, agreed next actions)

Confirmation

  • Certificate of completion

Module ID

HAM-AG-C-02

Domain

Audience

Manager

Language

English

Delivery

Live virtual

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.

Delivery & learning format

Delivery & learning format

Delivery & learning format

Virtual live teaching

This module is delivered live, with a strong focus on discussion, practical application, and direct interaction with the instructor.

Sessions work through realistic examples, clarify concepts in context, and apply methods directly to participants’ organisational realities.

Custom delivery options

For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Send a short message and describe your context.

For an optimal learning experience

Preparation guidance

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

For an optimal learning experience

Preparation guidance

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

For an optimal learning experience

Preparation guidance

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

Assumed background

No formal prerequisites. This module assumes general familiarity with management system concepts and organisational roles.

Helpful background includes:

  • Basic understanding of how a management system is governed and maintained

  • Familiarity with organisational decision-making and accountability

No formal prerequisites. This module assumes general familiarity with management system concepts and organisational roles.

Helpful background includes:

  • Basic understanding of how a management system is governed and maintained

  • Familiarity with organisational decision-making and accountability

Preparatory modules

Supporting modules (optional)

Helpful if you want to deepen related skills, but not required to participate effectively.

System Foundations

Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries to build and operate effective management systems

7 h

System Foundations

Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries to build and operate effective management systems

7 h

System Foundations

Understand organisational context, stakeholders, and system boundaries to build and operate effective management systems

7 h

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen your competence. If you are looking for a structured learning path, modules can also be taken as part of a professional track.

Governance Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of role design, decision rights, governance mechanisms, and escalation paths in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Governance Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of role design, decision rights, governance mechanisms, and escalation paths in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Governance Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of role design, decision rights, governance mechanisms, and escalation paths in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Policy Management

Build a coherent, auditable policy framework that aligns with strategy, scales across entities, and stays current without bureaucracy

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Policy Management

Build a coherent, auditable policy framework that aligns with strategy, scales across entities, and stays current without bureaucracy

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Policy Management

Build a coherent, auditable policy framework that aligns with strategy, scales across entities, and stays current without bureaucracy

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Management Review

Learn the fundamentals of planning, conducting, and documenting management reviews using integrated inputs and decision-focused outputs

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Management Review

Learn the fundamentals of planning, conducting, and documenting management reviews using integrated inputs and decision-focused outputs

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Management Review

Learn the fundamentals of planning, conducting, and documenting management reviews using integrated inputs and decision-focused outputs

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

People & Communication Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of competence planning, awareness building, and structured communication in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

People & Communication Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of competence planning, awareness building, and structured communication in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

People & Communication Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of competence planning, awareness building, and structured communication in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Improvement Management

Understand corrective actions, root cause analysis, action tracking, and effectiveness verification in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Improvement Management

Understand corrective actions, root cause analysis, action tracking, and effectiveness verification in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Improvement Management

Understand corrective actions, root cause analysis, action tracking, and effectiveness verification in management systems

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

View module

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.