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The Post Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship Practice Program is based on the CIRMI Systemic Thinking Processes from the Theory of Constraints Program is a business leadership program unlike any other. It’s for daring and determined founders and CEOs who want to increase revenue and scale exponentially. Exclusively designed for established enterprises, this powerful program, led by CIRMI and Intelligent Management Inc., Canada works with you in both in person and online formats. Entrepreneurial Management is a mindset, methodology and skillset—and we’ve been teaching them for nearly 30 years in Europe, North America and Africa with great success. Entrepreneurial leaders share three defining characteristics that make them different from every other type of leader. They are highly skilled at managing risk, navigating uncertainty, and exploring ambiguity. By equipping students with these three traits, they are able to turn problems into opportunities that create economic and social value–for themselves, for their organizations, and for society at large.
The Post Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship Practice Program is an exciting new course where you do not just learn about entrepreneurship from others, but you practice entrepreneurship yourself during the academic year.
The program provides bespoke support from the point of admission, throughout your study, and after graduation by proposing a road map for a successful entrepreneur career.
It caters for individuals at different points on their entrepreneurial journey and different types of entrepreneurship across different sectors and missions (including for-profit and social/hybrid enterprises).
This is the program for you, if you:
You will benefit from:
We welcome your application irrespective of your disciplinary background.
We particularly encourage you to apply for this programme if you are from an underrepresented entrepreneurship community.
STARTS ON
A Kenyan Bachelors degree, a UK 2:2 (or above) degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in any discipline from an approved higher education institution.
Non-graduates will be considered on a case-by-case basis following the evaluation of their evidence of prior entrepreneurial or work experience and/or non-degree training received.
A well-researched personal statement setting out the objectives that you want to achieve over the duration of the programme as well as longer-term goals, with reference to relevant experiences.
Module One: Breakthrough Thinking for Continuous Innovation (Semester I)
Part of our growth, as companies or as individuals, is to experience being “stuck”. We may be resisting some change or unsure of a direction to take. This is usually a signal that it is time to break through to a new level of development. Being stuck is due to a series of limiting mental models we are probably unaware of. The good news is that this is precisely the material we need to develop a breakthrough, if we have a method. In this introductory program, participants learn the Conflict Cloud Thinking Process.
It provides a method through language to:
Module Two: Crafting Complete, Thought-through Solutions for a Desirable Future
Once we have identified a solution, we need a way to check that our solution will lead to desired outcomes and that it is complete. We also need to be able to identify and avoid potential unintended consequences that can interfere with the success of implementing our solution.
In this custom program, participants build on their ability to develop solutions (Injections) using a Conflict Cloud by learning to:
Module Three: Systemic Strategy and Implementation
Some situations of blockage are complex: they involve multiple interdependencies and/or stakeholders. We need a different kind of Conflict Cloud for this. The Core Conflict Cloud provides a method to take a series of seemingly disconnected “undesirable effects” in our current reality and transform them into the starting point for developing a breakthrough solution. Implementing this solution will lead us to a whole new level of performance and desired results.
In this advanced, custom program, participants learn to:
Module Four: External Constraint
External Constraint was first introduced in Dr. Goldratt’s business novel ‘It’s Not Luck’. It is a highly effectively approach to marketing and sales based on a detailed conversation with the customer about how everybody involved can make things better in a win–win way. The approach looks at the entire value network a company is part of and develops maximum value through an “unrefusable offer”. It prompts companies to integrate marketing and sales with operations to be able to deliver the value presented.
In this advanced custom program, participants learn to:
Module Five: Project Phase
Months 1–7: Training Phase (TOC modules + preparation for real-world application)
Months 8–11: Business Growth Project Implementation Phase (applying TOC in a real company)
Month 12: Project Review, Business Outcomes Evaluation, Capstone Presentation
| Month | Module | Focus | Expected Growth Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Module 1: Breakthrough Thinking | – Learn Conflict Cloud Process – Identify limiting mental models – Define business blockage in sales or growth | Clarify internal bottlenecks in sales, operations, marketing, mindset |
| Month 2 | Module 2: Thought-Through Solutions | – Future Reality Tree + Negative Branch – Validate solutions – Prepare changes with least risk | Draft systemic innovations to overcome sales stagnation or profit erosion |
| Month 3–4 | Module 3: Strategy & Implementation | – Build Core Conflict Cloud – Prerequisite + Transition Tree – Connect solutions to business growth plan | Create a strategic roadmap for achieving increased profit or expansion |
| Month 5–6 | Module 4: External Constraint (Sales/Marketing) | – Create Unrefusable Offer – Align value chain – Design marketing and sales messaging | Improve sales conversion and differentiate offer in market |
| Month 7 | Pre-Project Phase | – Finalize project design – Apply all Trees to real company – Define KPIs (sales %, margin, revenue growth) | Launch-ready strategy for project implementation |
| Month | Activities | Expected Growth Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Month 8 | Launch Business Growth Project – Implement Phase 1 of strategy – Focus: bottleneck removal | Early wins: increased lead quality, reduced rework, shorter sales cycles |
| Month 9 | Rollout Value Proposition – Use Unrefusable Offer – Optimize operations to match demand | Improved conversion rates, greater client satisfaction |
| Month 10 | Scaling Phase – Streamline operations – Align supply/delivery with increased demand | Better cash flow, improved capacity utilization, higher throughput |
| Month 11 | Stabilization & Optimization – Remove remaining negative branches – Finalize new business model | Sustainable margin growth, more predictable sales outcomes |
| Focus Area | Activity |
|---|---|
| Business Review | Present sales and profit growth metrics |
| Learning Impact | Showcase application of TOC Trees in business |
| Feedback Loop | Identify next constraints and future innovation opportunities |
| Peer Presentation | Share project case study and growth outcomes |
At the heart of the programme is dynamic, mentor-inspired and mentor-guided, active learning. The profile of your practitioner and academic mentors will depend on where you are on your entrepreneurial journey and the type of venture you want to create and/or grow.
Your learning journey will be underpinned by two innovative programme-long mentor-supported modules:
The CIRMI Enterprise Lab will offer you an authentic and interactive start-up simulation experience spanning the early stages of ideation, planning and testing, and extending to the stages of running and growing an innovative business.
The Entrepreneurial Self-development and Leadership module will enable you to design and implement together with your mentors an individual programme to enhance your entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and capabilities, and continuously reflect on your entrepreneurial practice from the point of admission to completion.
Our theory and practical modules will be fuelled by a robust portfolio of essentials of entrepreneurial innovation. This will include a combination of stimulating knowledge ‘mini-bites’ on:
Theory of Constraints (TOC) Training: Structured modules focusing on identifying and overcoming business bottlenecks.
Practical Application: Implementation of learned concepts in a real-world business project.
Expert Guidance: Access to experienced mentors and industry experts.
Networking Opportunities: Engagement with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs
It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.
Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.
While there are no compulsory additional costs associated with this course, there may be general additional costs that you may incur as a student. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.
We award limited scholarships to local and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship.
Flexible payment options available. View payment plans
At CGSE, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions.
We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.
The programme is underpinned by the research expertise of world-leading academics in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation, digitally enabled business models, circular economy, and sustainability.
Make an enquiry about this course, and sign up for news updates about studying at CGSE.