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Quest Training

Operational Excellence Leadership Training Course

Develops leaders who align people, processes and resources, set clear performance expectations and embed accountability and continuous improvement daily.

QE · Operational Excellence & Performance ImprovementAll Levels#2843ClassroomEnglish , Arabic
Duration
5 Days
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Free substitution at any time · 30+ days' notice: full refund minus 10%. Cancellation policy

Sectors:Quality Management & Operational ExcellenceCategories:Operational Excellence & Performance Improvement

Course Overview

Operational excellence leadership is essential for organizations seeking to translate strategic objectives into consistent operational results. Effective leaders must align people, processes, and resources, establish clear performance expectations, and create an environment where accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement become part of everyday operations. This course focuses on the leadership capabilities required to drive operational excellence across departments and business functions. Participants will explore performance-driven leadership, Lean management principles, process improvement, operational governance, KPI management, employee engagement, and cross-functional collaboration. The programme also examines how leaders identify performance gaps, prioritize improvement initiatives, manage resistance to change, and connect operational decisions with broader organizational goals. Through practical exercises and workplace scenarios, participants will develop approaches for leading improvement initiatives, coaching teams, resolving operational challenges, and sustaining measurable results. The course emphasizes leadership accountability, data-informed decision-making, effective communication, and a culture of continuous improvement that supports productivity, service quality, cost efficiency, and long-term organizational performance.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the role of leadership in establishing and sustaining operational excellence.
  • Align operational priorities with organizational strategy and performance objectives.
  • Apply Lean principles and continuous improvement methods to operational challenges.
  • Identify performance gaps and lead structured problem-solving initiatives.
  • Establish clear KPIs, performance expectations, and accountability mechanisms.
  • Strengthen employee engagement, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Lead operational change and address resistance during improvement initiatives.
  • Develop leadership routines for monitoring performance and reviewing operational results.
  • Coach teams in root cause analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish practices that sustain operational gains and support long-term performance improvement.

Who Should Attend

Senior executives and organizational leaders responsible for operational performance. Operations directors, managers, and department heads. Operational excellence and continuous improvement leaders. Plant managers, production managers, and service delivery managers. Lean and Six Sigma practitioners moving into leadership roles. Quality, process improvement, and performance management professionals. Transformation leaders and managers responsible for organizational change. Project and programme managers leading operational improvement initiatives. Government and public sector managers seeking to improve service delivery and organizational efficiency.

Learning Outcomes

  • Translate organizational strategy into operational priorities and measurable outcomes.
  • Apply leadership principles that promote accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Identify operational inefficiencies and prioritize improvement opportunities.
  • Use KPIs and performance dashboards to guide operational decisions.
  • Lead structured problem-solving and root cause analysis activities.
  • Engage employees and coordinate cross-functional teams around shared objectives.
  • Manage resistance to change and communicate improvement priorities effectively.
  • Establish regular performance reviews and management routines.
  • Coach teams to implement corrective actions and improve process performance.
  • Evaluate improvement results and implement measures to sustain operational gains.

Course Outline

Day 1

Operational Excellence Leadership and Strategic Alignment

  • The role of leadership in operational excellence and organizational performance.
  • Linking corporate strategy, operational priorities, and customer value.
  • Leadership behaviours that support accountability, discipline, and continuous improvement.
  • Operational excellence frameworks and the contribution of Lean management and Six Sigma.
  • Assessing operational maturity and identifying leadership-related performance gaps.
  • Establishing a shared vision, improvement priorities, and measurable operational objectives.
  • Defining leadership responsibilities across departments and business functions.
  • Building a performance-oriented culture through visible leadership and consistent management practices.
  • Practical Exercise: Assess an organizational performance scenario, identify leadership gaps, and define priorities for aligning operational activities with strategic objectives.
Day 2

Performance Management, KPIs, and Operational Decision-Making

  • Designing operational KPIs aligned with strategic and departmental objectives.
  • Establishing performance baselines, targets, thresholds, and accountability.
  • Using dashboards, operational reports, and performance reviews to monitor results.
  • Identifying performance gaps through process data and operational indicators.
  • Applying root cause analysis using the Five Whys and fishbone diagrams.
  • Prioritizing corrective actions based on operational impact, urgency, and available resources.
  • Making evidence-based decisions and balancing short-term targets with long-term improvement.
  • Establishing effective daily, weekly, and monthly management routines.
  • Practical Exercise: Review an operational performance dashboard, diagnose underperformance, and develop a prioritized corrective action plan with measurable targets.
Day 3

Leading Process Improvement and Operational Problem-Solving

  • Applying Lean principles to reduce waste and improve process flow.
  • Identifying bottlenecks, unnecessary activities, duplication, and process variation.
  • Leading structured problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Using process mapping and value stream analysis to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Applying corrective and preventive actions to address recurring operational problems.
  • Building employee participation through improvement teams and workplace problem-solving.
  • Managing improvement initiatives across departments and operational functions.
  • Evaluating improvement benefits in terms of productivity, quality, cost, and service delivery.
  • Practical Exercise: Lead a simulated improvement initiative, map the current process, identify root causes, and recommend practical changes with defined performance measures.
Day 4

Leading Teams, Managing Change, and Building Accountability

  • Leadership approaches for motivating teams and strengthening operational ownership.
  • Communicating performance expectations and improvement priorities clearly.
  • Coaching employees in problem-solving, decision-making, and process improvement.
  • Building cross-functional collaboration and resolving operational conflicts.
  • Understanding resistance to change and identifying barriers to implementation.
  • Developing stakeholder engagement and change communication plans.
  • Delegating responsibilities and establishing clear ownership of improvement actions.
  • Recognizing achievements and reinforcing behaviours that support operational excellence.
  • Practical Exercise: Develop a leadership and change management plan for a cross-functional improvement initiative, including stakeholder responsibilities, communication activities, and accountability measures.
Day 5

Sustaining Operational Excellence and Leadership Impact

  • Embedding continuous improvement into organizational culture and daily management.
  • Establishing performance review cycles and follow-up mechanisms.
  • Monitoring improvement outcomes and verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions.
  • Standardizing successful practices and updating operational procedures.
  • Reviewing operational risks, recurring failures, and opportunities for further improvement.
  • Developing leadership scorecards and evaluating the impact of improvement initiatives.
  • Building employee capability through coaching, knowledge sharing, and structured learning.
  • Creating a leadership action plan for sustaining operational excellence over the next 90 days.
  • Practical Exercise: Prepare a 90-day operational excellence leadership action plan with defined initiatives, accountable owners, milestones, performance indicators, and sustainability measures.

Upcoming Dates

Selected date

Muscat · 21 – 25 Dec 2026 · Classroom

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CityDatesPrice per ParticipantEarly Bird
KigaliScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€5,100—
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Kuala LumpurScheduled
9 – 13 Nov 2026€4,400—
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LisbonScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€5,400—
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LondonScheduled
23 – 27 Nov 2026€5,600€5,040until 2 Nov
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MadridScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€5,400€4,860until 9 Nov
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MakkahScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€4,200€3,780until 16 Nov
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ManamaScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€4,700€4,230until 16 Nov
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MilanScheduled
14 – 18 Dec 2026€6,000€5,400until 23 Nov
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MuscatScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€5,300€4,770until 30 Nov
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OnlineScheduled
27 – 31 Dec 2026€1,700€1,530until 7 Dec
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ParisScheduled
4 – 8 Jan 2027€5,700€5,130until 14 Dec
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AbujaScheduled
11 – 15 Jan 2027€5,100€4,590until 21 Dec
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AccraScheduled
18 – 22 Jan 2027€5,100€4,590until 28 Dec
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AmmanScheduled
24 – 28 Jan 2027€3,100€2,790until 4 Jan
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AmsterdamScheduled
25 – 29 Jan 2027€5,400€4,860until 4 Jan
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BakuScheduled
1 – 5 Feb 2027€4,800€4,320until 11 Jan
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BangkokScheduled
8 – 12 Feb 2027€6,100€5,490until 18 Jan
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BarcelonaScheduled
15 – 19 Feb 2027€5,400€4,860until 25 Jan
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BeirutScheduled
21 – 25 Feb 2027€4,000€3,600until 1 Feb
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BerlinScheduled
1 – 5 Mar 2027€5,800€5,220until 8 Feb
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CairoScheduled
7 – 11 Mar 2027€3,300€2,970until 15 Feb
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Cape TownScheduled
8 – 12 Mar 2027€5,100€4,590until 15 Feb
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CasablancaScheduled
15 – 19 Mar 2027€4,300€3,870until 22 Feb
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DammamScheduled
22 – 26 Mar 2027€4,200€3,780until 1 Mar
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DohaScheduled
29 Mar – 2 Apr 2027€4,400€3,960until 8 Mar
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DubaiScheduled
4 – 8 Apr 2027€4,400€3,960until 15 Mar
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IstanbulScheduled
12 – 16 Apr 2027€4,700€4,230until 22 Mar
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JeddahScheduled
18 – 22 Apr 2027€4,200€3,780until 29 Mar
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KigaliScheduled
26 – 30 Apr 2027€5,100€4,590until 5 Apr
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Kuala LumpurScheduled
26 – 30 Apr 2027€4,400€3,960until 5 Apr
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Available in: Istanbul · Dubai · London · Doha · Amsterdam

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