PROGRAM CURRICULUM

A practical education in leading-edge global business topics

Although the global economic outlook is improving, leaders are continuing to face challenges that arise due to global volatility. Companies are having to balance the pressure of cost-cutting and protecting valuable human capital. How can companies effectively shelter core assets, stay true to their cultural values, and position themselves for maximum advantage moving forward? Leadership and Strategic Thinking are two core ingredients in answering this question and helping companies move forward. While competition gets tougher those companies with strong leadership and strategic thinkers will get ahead. Come and join a group of leaders from around the globe who can help you sharpen your leadership and critical thinking skills. You will learn about the following topics during the 10-day program:

GLOBAL STRATEGY

Effective global strategy requires an array of knowledge, including how to manage key relationships at all levels and across countries and cultures; understanding the choices involved in setting and implementing strategies for global competition; and knowing how differences in values and norms can influence how people work together to execute a strategy. During this program you will:

• Examine ownership structures of international ventures and the challenges of cross-border collaboration
• Develop a broader vision and gain insight on how to position your organization to operate and compete effectively worldwide
• Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of globalization, free trade and the focus of the World Trade Organization

STRATEGIC THINKING

Future global leaders must be familiar with competitive strategy in industries with rapid technological change and international production and distribution. Using case studies and articles of actual companies to discuss principles of strategic thinking you will:

• Learn how to create operational advantages for your business
• Understand key principles for creating innovative advantage and the importance of avoiding consensus in innovation-related decision making
• Learn how to staff for success and why it is important to stretch your strong performers, especially in this economy

LEADERSHIP

Leadership is a required component of global success for any business. Influential leaders are adept at building teams and partnerships that transcend personal interests and cultural differences within organizations and between countries. In this program, you will:

• Learn to apply successful leadership and decision-making models to develop your full potential as a global business leader
• Develop the critical leading and influencing skills necessary to sustain long-term organizational success through a combination of class sessions, discussion, simulation and self-assessment

GLOBAL ECONOMICS

Learn about the impact of global economics in strategy formulation by developing a framework for understanding global economics. This program will give you:

• An overview of the 4 markets in the global economy: 1) Goods and services 2) Domestic financial 3) Foreign exchange 4) Labor and capital
• An understanding of recession and boom causes by focusing on the components of total spending on final goods and services:  consumption, investment, government spending, and net exports
• Insight on the movements in current exchange rates as well as the consequences for countries that tie their currency to the U.S. dollar

MARKETING

Proficiency in marketing is a skill relevant to all careers concerned with strategy and decision-making in organizations. The ultimate goal of most businesses is to make a profit, and profits fundamentally depend on the firm’s ability to persuade consumers to buy its products/services.  This program will:

• Examine creating superior value for consumers
• Provide insight on effective growth strategies
• Assist you in becoming a better marketing decision-maker within your organization through utilization of a Marketing Strategy Framework (MSF)

BUSINESS ETHICS

Today’s business environment increasingly demands more ethical business practices and actions.  The goal of these sessions is to dramatically increase the participant’s ability to manage the ethical aspects of business.  In the Business Ethics sessions, participants will:

• Consider a framework that allows them to quickly analyze the fundamental elements of an ethical issue
• Learn how the framework helps to describe the ethical issues they encounter, make correct judgments, and develop strategies for persuading others to move to their position