PROGRAM MODULES

Each module is residential (usually at the Allen Center at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL). Modules start at 8:00 a.m. on Thursdays and end at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays, except for Module 1, which will start at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The modules are focused on:

1. Customer Orientation
2. Organic Growth and Innovation
3. Risk and Opportunity
4. Beyond Boundaries
5. Execution
6. Leadership

• Module 1: Creating the Market-Focused Organization
  
  Create an organization that consistently outperforms its competition by carefully identifying and segmenting markets and delivering an outstanding value proposition to its target customers. Align all aspects of your business, including organization, culture, and values firmly with the target customer value proposition. Create an organization where everyone, regardless of position or function, knows what the market strategy means for his or her job and makes decisions consistent with this strategy.
• Module 2: Driving Organic Growth and Innovation
  
  Develop strategies and processes for driving organic growth. Recognize the growth impediments that companies face, and why organic growth may be preferable to inorganic growth. Focus on value creation and capture in your organization, determining where value is being destroyed or could be generated. Find new avenues for organic growth, and learn how to systematically identify and exploit opportunities for organic growth along key adjacencies. Create a growth process, and an organization to drive growth across the corporation.
• Module 3: From Risk to Opportunity
  
  Operational and financial challenges have long been the traditional focus for managing corporate risk. Significant conceptual and technical advances have provided companies the tools to better manage such risks. Yet, increased globalization, changes in information technology and societal changes have created new risks or increased the potential impact of mismanaging existing risks, frequently overwhelming existing management structures and business processes. In this module we will take an in-depth look at various emerging risks, ranging from financial to reputational. How do global financial and economic trends lead to changing risk environments? What are the consequences of post-Enron regulatory changes and how do they affect business practices, from disclosure to compensation? How do we capture the latent knowledge within companies to identify risks and capture opportunities?
• Module 4: Expanding Boundaries
  
  Redefine markets, harness emerging trends in technology, translate demographic trends ahead of the curve, understand changes in consumer behavior. Translate these risks and opportunities into changes in the company portfolio through divestitures, M&A, joint ventures, new market entry, product and service development, etc. Maximize value capture potential through post-merger integration.
• Module 5: Executing Visions
  
  Identify and resolve organizational and leadership challenges that lead to the translation of strategy into concrete, consistent actions and strong execution. Recognize and master challenges in leading and executing fundamental change. Focus on the importance of vision, values, and culture in enabling lasting change. Create an environment to get the most out of the corporation’s Board of Directors and its executive team.
• Module 6: Leading in Turbulent Times
  
  Recognize the importance and challenges of needing to respond to multiple constituencies, from shareholders to the public. Reconcile and resolve competing or conflicting expectations and demands from stakeholders. Assess the appropriate community role and its impact on long-term returns. Develop strategic skills to manage corporate crises. Develop a personal action-plan for the next year of your career.