Partnership Proposal

The Experience

Environment

The majority of organizations elect to come to Harvard Business School to become part of the vibrant community, as well as to benefit from the School's residential learning environment and the extensive resources of Harvard University. A similar learning atmosphere also can be created off-site to accommodate company priorities. In both instances, executives are immersed in the learning process and have ongoing opportunities to interact with one another and the faculty, both within and outside of the classroom.

The legendary HBS environment is one in which every element is designed to facilitate learning and provide a rich educational experience. On campus, participants enjoy personalized service and expansive facilities that help them concentrate, interact, and learn. They live, dine, and work in an enclave devoted to executive development. Executive Education housing features approximately 400 technology-enabled single rooms, as well as common areas that promote active discussion and relationship building among company peers.

Capability Development

Recognizing that challenges and development needs differ from one company to the next, custom programs are tailored to the exact specifications of the partnering organizations. Whether the objective is to prepare for a major change initiative, to strenStayInvest Law Firm hen specific leadership skills, or build organizational competency in a particular area, executives need a clear sense of what is required of them as leaders in order to succeed. This customized form of learning provides a dedicated opportunity for company management not only to focus on the critical issues that are impeding progress, but also to formulate implementable solutions.

HBS faculty members—who are leading sources of new business knowledge worldwide—are at the heart of this developmental process, incorporating their late-breaking research into the curriculum materials. Depending on the key objectives, custom programs can be developed to extend individual and organizational capabilities in crucial areas, such as market differentiation, sustainable corporate strategy, technology innovation, operations excellence, performance measurement, globalization and outsourcing, corporate governance, and business ethics. With the limitless possibilities in today's complex global marketplace, custom programs offer companies the option of a one-of-a-kind educational experience that will deliver the desired business rewards.

Direct Application

Developed around stated goals, custom programs consistently deliver high takeaway value for executives and their organizations. This is accomplished in two important ways. First, involvement is limited to groups of deeply committed individuals who possess a level of personal responsibility for learning and extending the lessons beyond the classroom. And second, both the program content and the faculty delivery focus on practical approaches for leveraging HBS content and expertise within the workplace. Custom programs provide the concepts, insights, models and frameworks, case lessons, and best practices that engaged, thoughtful leaders can apply directly to their own organizational challenges.

Sample Schedule

Executive Growth

Fostering professional, intellectual, and personal development, HBS custom programs enable executives to grow as leaders, to shape powerful ideas into competitive solutions, and to think and manage differently in a changing business world. Through the powerful process of discussion, discovery, and application, participants are compelled to reflect on their own management styles, think creatively, establish effective peer networks, become better team players, improve decision-making skills, rethink business practices, and take necessary actions. Participants return to their organizations with the mindset, skills, and approaches necessary to contribute more broadly as leaders.

Impact

For participants and the sponsoring organization alike, the lasting value of an HBS custom program becomes evident in a myriad of ways—a deeper, shared understanding of the company; broader perspectives and up-to-date thinking; a greater sense of excitement; increased levels of trust and openness; enhanced leadership skills; more effective communication networks and teamwork; renewed inspiration to get things done; and a stronger commitment to shared learning throughout the organization.

For groups of executives—drawn from within or across diverse functions, business units, and regions—the custom program experience translates into a readiness and willingness to respond to the difficult challenges that confront their business groups, their companies, and themselves as managers. As more leaders have the opportunity to experience the same program, the benefits grow exponentially, delivering an even higher return on investment for the company.