The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership will advance your career by developing the authority, skills, and attributes required to enhance organisational effectiveness and operational performance. This qualification is a practical and academically robust toolkit for professionals aiming for senior roles where strategic direction, resource allocation, and performance pressures intersect.
Key Takeaways:
- The OTHM Level 7 Diploma equips professionals with advanced strategic, leadership, and management skills aligned to real-world senior business challenges.
- This qualification is internationally recognised, offering a flexible and affordable pathway to career progression or postgraduate studies like MBA top-up programs.
- Learners gain practical expertise in planning, leadership, risk, finance, marketing, and team building, skills essential for thriving in competitive industries.
The Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership equips professionals with strategic management and leadership skills that translate organisational strategy into effective operational management. It provides skills and capabilities to become an effective strategic manager.
As an Ofqual-regulated awarding body, OTHM delivers qualifications that are valued across industries and borders, with an emphasis on career progression, strategic thinking, and practical application rather than mere compliance.
What is Strategic Management and Leadership Matter in Today’s Business Environment?
Strategic management and leadership skills are obligatory skills in today’s business environment. Modern business structures are flatter due to complex economic conditions. This Level 7 OTHM Diploma covers all the important topics that reflect the challenges faced by the business world. Topics such as risk, people management, finance, marketing and strategic management are all stitched together in a way that reflects how leadership actually works.
Understanding the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership
The core structure of the OTHM Level 7 Diploma focuses on decision-making and management skills. Professionals require these skills and knowledge that link directly to business leadership.
Unit 1: Advanced Business Research Methods
The learners will develop their ability to prepare for various types of academically based management research through the development and design of a research proposal. Learners will develop a critical understanding of the philosophical, practical and ethical concepts of research within the context of the business environment.
Unit 2: Strategic Management
In this unit, you will understand strategic and change management models, as well as the ability to review strategic plans, to propose strategic options, to create implementation plans and to lead organisational changes.
Unit 3: Strategic Leadership
You will get an in-depth understanding of the key principles and practice of leadership. This will enhance the individuals' knowledge, skills and attributes to effectively engage in the role and responsibilities required of an effective team player and leader of a team; being proactive in innovation and improvement to inform strategy and business planning within the organisation.
Unit 4: Strategic Human Resource Management
The aim of this unit is to develop an understanding of how the effective strategic management of human resources supports the achievement of organisational objectives in different contexts. Learners will evaluate the contribution of strategic human resource management and the application of leadership and management theory for organisational benefit.
Unit 5: Strategic Change Management
You will learn classic and contemporary theories of change management and how to apply them to contemporary organisations in the globalised world, with the identification and use of change models. Learners will understand the personal characteristics of change agents as well as the evaluation and development of leadership skills to meet current and future change management roles.
Unit 6: Supply Chain and Operations Management
Learners will develop concepts and understand the models of effective supply chain and operations management in competitive marketplaces using case studies and real-world industry scenarios.Learners will develop an understanding of operational processes, techniques, planning and control systems.
What is the Equivalence of This Qualification?
The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership is aligned with the academic level of a Master’s degree in the UK. It carries 120 credits and is widely recognised by universities both in the UK and internationally as a direct entry point into MBA or MSc top-up programmes.
This diploma covers the core learning outcomes typically included in a full Master’s. To complete a Master’s degree, learners usually progress to a final stage that involves writing a dissertation, thesis, or completing a major project, bringing the total credit requirement to 180.
For many professionals, this qualification offers a more flexible and affordable route to a postgraduate degree. It delivers the academic knowledge, credit value, and industry recognition of a Master’s, without the extended duration or financial commitment of a traditional degree.
For more information regarding which universities offer a top-up with a Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership. Click here.
What are the Skills You Will Gain Through This Qualification?
This section highlights the practical and leadership-oriented skills learners develop during the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.
Strategic Planning
In this qualification, you will gain information on both internal operations and external market conditions. You will use tools like SWOT, PESTLE, and Porter’s Five Forces. These models identify repeated patterns, spot weaknesses, and build strategies that are relevant and achievable. You will be able to create structured, long-term business plans that align with real-world dynamics.
Executive Leadership
This diploma helps you examine different leadership styles and assess their impact. This skill will help you to step beyond management and into leadership roles. It will facilitate conflict resolution through strong decision-making, even in challenging environments. A learner will develop a communicating vision, build trust, and a culture of accountability and innovation at the executive level.
Risk Evaluation
With risk evaluation skill, you can identify potential threats at an early stage, assess them with clarity and develop practical responses. To master this skill, you will get scenario planning and contingency mapping to build a decision framework and reduce the guesswork. This will improve the stability of the decision and reduce organisational exposure to financial, operational, or reputational threats during periods of uncertainty.
Financial Management
Financial management skill is a strategic choice. In this skill, you will plan a budget, forecast revenue, allocate resources and interpret the numbers that drive executive-level conversations. You will learn to assess return on investment (ROI) and weigh costs against benefits in a structured, analytical way.
With the OTHM level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, you will make financially sound decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and present budgets and projections that support strategic goals.
Market Strategy
Strategic leadership includes making decisions according to the market in which an organisation is working. You will be able to analyse competitors, segment markets, and shape a brand or company’s position with intent. Marketing efforts will be aligned with business goals, and we will gain clarity on how to influence customer behaviour at a strategic level.
Team Building
Team building is an important skill for a strategy to be successful. Knowing how to develop talent, succession plan, and manage team performance through clearly defined KPIs. This OTHM diploma helps you create a work culture that is productive and resilient, where motivation and accountability go hand in hand.
How to Get Started with the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership?
Getting started with the OTHM Level 7 Diploma is a straightforward process, but there are a few key entry requirements you'll need to meet:
Market Strategy: Must be at least 21 years old to enrol.
Academic Qualification: You are typically required to have a Level 6 qualification, such as a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent international qualification.
Professional Experience: If you are a mature learner and do not hold a formal degree, then you must have significant and relevant managerial experience.
English Language Skills: If English is not your first language, you must demonstrate proficiency, usually through an approved English language test or relevant academic history.
This qualification is designed for ambitious professionals looking to progress into senior management roles or pursue further postgraduate study, such as an MBA top-up.
How This Qualification is Delivered and Assessed?
This OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership is delivered 100% online. You will receive structured guidance with dedicated academic support and access to experienced tutors.
You can complete this qualification in the span of one year. All the units will be assessed internally and verified externally by the awarding organisation.
Conclusion
The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership trains professionals to be the next leaders. It encourages them to act decisively and manage functions with strategic intent. This qualification will provide you with career progression as well as set the foundation for a full Master’s degree with a structured, flexible, and industry-recognised path. It equips learners with skills important to manage uncertainty, resources and performance.
