Building New Businesses in Established Organizations

In an evolving business arena, a strong track record does not guarantee future success. To ensure longevity, organizations must continue to fund innovation by creating a mix of existing and new sources of revenue. Harvard Business School (HBS) helps companies develop a portfolio approach to growth through Building New Businesses in Established Organizations—a unique Executive Education program that provides proven strategies for building startups within a large corporation.

What You Can Expect
This intensive program helps your company secure its future through developing new enterprises that complement maturing lines of business. You'll explore the entrepreneurial mindset, integral processes, corporate resources, and leadership skills needed to drive innovation and ensure the success of new initiatives.

Your Course of Study
With a focus on turning ideas into action, this program explores the relationship between a corporation's existing infrastructure and a new entrepreneurial business unit. You will learn how successful companies build the right blend of businesses, balance day-to-day activities with new initiatives, and foster revenue-generating innovation and change.

Who Is Right for the Program
This leadership development program is designed for individual executives or teams from large corporations with revenues of at least $100 million who are charged with building new businesses within their organization.

What You Can Expect

Improving Your Organization's Performance

A company's future depends on its ability to innovate today and generate supplemental revenue sources over the long term. Designed to provide new ways for deep-rooted organizations to drive growth through the organic development of new businesses, this program helps you achieve the important balance between existing lines of business and entrepreneurial initiatives. As a participant, you will benefit from practical strategies, fresh insights, and real-world advice that will help you identify opportunities and nurture a high-growth business while navigating—and leveraging—the infrastructure of an established organization.

Taking Your Skills to the Next Level

This program is designed to improve your ability to:

"The program is a must for executives who aspire to be entrepreneurs and expand their business. Now I understand how to build new scalable ventures that make economic, financial, and commercial sense. I would highly recommend this program—its relevant curriculum, expert faculty, and interactive studies—to any executive who would like to step out of the comfort zone and venture into new business."
Peter Tan [Senior Financial Services Director], Prudential Assurance Company (Pte.) Ltd., Singapore

Your Course of Study

Designed to generate entrepreneurial thinking and innovation in large organizations, this HBS Executive Education program will help you successfully launch and grow a new business within an existing organization. The program begins with an introduction to the renowned HBS case method, which helps you become adept at analyzing issues, exercising judgment, and making decisions through the exploration of real-life business challenges. In a carefully selected set of cases, dynamic lectures, and lively peer discussion, you will examine topics central to the growth of startups in a corporate setting, including:

Building a Portfolio

Moving from Idea to Execution

Governing Internal Startups

Knowledge in Action

This program is designed to bring classroom lessons into focus. During two special hands-on sessions, you will apply the strategies introduced during the program to your own initiatives. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work with faculty to identify and address gaps in your organization's ability to execute.

The program also includes a panel discussion featuring executives who've built new businesses within established organizations. You not only hear about their challenges, approaches, and results, but also have the opportunity to pose your own questions to the panel.

"This was by far the best classroom training I have ever experienced. My objective was to understand how to lower the internal barriers for our newly created business unit, as there are always issues surrounding resources, funding, compensation, and alignment. After this course, I was able to meet with our senior management and successfully articulated my position on the challenges that we face in creating a joint venture to develop an innovative product offering."
Hemant Jain [Director, Energy Solutions Operations], Hess Corporation, U.S.

Who Is Right for the Program

Building New Businesses in Established Organizations is designed for executives who are responsible for building new entrepreneurial businesses in large, mature organizations with annual revenues of at least $100 million.

This program is designed to help you align your team around a common framework, and offers opportunities to apply new concepts to your business. By sending a team of executives, you can help accelerate the implementation of your new business initiatives.

Past Participants Represented:

Industries Nationalities
10% Chem/Pharm/Bio 13% Asia/Pacific
3% Communications 26% Europe
8% Consumer Products 13% Latin America
11% Financial 48% North America
11% High Technology
15% Manufacturing
7% Nonprofit Services
4% Other Services
8% Professional Services
4% Raw Materials/Energy
1% Real Estate/Construction
5% Retail Services
13% Utilities/Telecommunications

Meet the Program Faculty

At Building Businesses in Established Organizations, you will interact with HBS professors who are skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Recognized thought leaders on global business and management issues, our faculty maintain dynamic relationships with top companies around the world. Their business expertise and field-based research continue to serve as the foundation for our illuminating case studies. Through publishing, consulting, and teaching, they deliver enduring concepts that shape the practice of management around the world. The result is a teaching team that exposes you to multiple perspectives, challenges your thinking, and takes you to a new level of leadership.

The HBS faculty builds leaders for the real world.

For more detailed biographies, click on each faculty name.

Lynda M. Applegate, Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration. Head of the Entrepreneurial Management Unit; member of the General Management Unit; and faculty chair "Launching New Ventures—India."

J. Bruce Harreld, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Entrepreneurial Management and the Strategy Units; and faculty chair of "Building New Businesses in Established Organizations."

Michael L. Tushman, Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty cochair of "Leading Change and Organizational Renewal."

Admissions

Because a diverse participant mix is an important part of every HBS Executive Education program, we look for candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds to enrich the learning experience.

Fees, Payments, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.

No payment is necessary until you have been accepted into an HBS Executive Education program. After admission notification, we will send you an invoice via email; payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date. If admission is within 30 days prior to the start of the program, payment is due upon receipt of the invoice. Payment is required prior to the program start date. We accept payment by company check, bank wire transfer, or credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa). Details are included on the program invoice.

If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Due to program demand and the volume of preprogram preparation, cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

Requirements

Although there are no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. We look for professionals who have demonstrated business talent and leadership potential.

HBS Executive Education programs enrich both participants and their sponsoring organizations, and require full commitment from each party. While participants devote time and intellect to the learning experience, sponsoring organizations agree to relieve individuals of their work responsibilities during the program.

Language Proficiency

We deliberately design our programs to encourage individual growth and to foster productive interaction among participants. For that reason, proficiency in written and spoken English is essential. If English is your second language, or if you have less than one year's experience working in an English-speaking environment, HBS requires a brief statement documenting proficiency in English-language skills, both conversational and written. This may include a list of the English-language certification programs that you have completed; the degrees you have earned at English-speaking colleges and universities; or the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. The Admissions Committee also may request a telephone interview.

Team Attendance

This program is appropriate for individuals as well as teams of executives from the same organization. When colleagues attend a program together, the organization benefits from their shared knowledge and common vision. This, in turn, enables participants to enhance their ability to pursue business goals as a team, effect critical transformations, and transfer knowledge. HBS client service specialists are available to advise on optimal team composition. The application for each team member must be received before the team's materials are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Application Process

Program participants must be nominated and sponsored by their current employer. HBS must receive your application and all required documents in order to prepare the application for review by the Admissions Committee.

To apply, you may use our online form or download an application. You also may request a brochure by mail.

If you submit your application online, we will promptly acknowledge receipt of your submission via email. In the unlikely event that an email acknowledgment is not received, please contact the Admissions Committee by email: exed_admissions@hbs.edu, phone: +1-617-495-6226, or fax: +1-617-496-1731.

If you choose to submit a printed application, be sure to type or print legibly and sign your application. Send the application to the address or fax number listed on the form. Mailed or faxed applications are processed and acknowledged promptly upon receipt via email.

Complete Your Application

Please answer all questions thoroughly—the Admissions Committee will only consider completed applications. After reviewing your application and making the necessary edits or corrections, print or copy the application for your records.

The application for each team member must be received before the team's materials are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Meet the Deadlines

We request applications at least four weeks in advance of the program start date. Early application does not guarantee admission. Programs often fill to capacity, so early application is recommended.

Notification of Acceptance

We acknowledge receipt of all applications and maintain all application information in strict confidentiality.

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, the Admissions Committee selects a class that balances each participant's experience, the scope of his or her current responsibilities, and the type of organization.

The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications four months before the start date, and qualified candidates are admitted on a rolling, space-available basis. Once the review process has begun, applicants are notified within three weeks via email regarding Admissions Committee decisions. If your application is received within three weeks of the program's start date, the Admissions Committee will notify you of their decision as soon as possible.

Need help?

For further assistance, contact our client service specialists at: 1-800-427-5577 (outside the U.S., dial +1-617-495-6555).