Your Course of Study
Against the backdrop of an evolving industry, the Global Energy Seminar examines the recent trends, innovations, and dynamic forces that affect how energy is produced and distributed. Through a combination of HBS case studies, interactive classroom discussions, and guest lectures, you will learn how energy executives are exploiting opportunities to position their companies for long-term success. The curriculum focuses on several key themes:
Globalization and Geopolitics
Around the world, uneven globalization is creating unique challenges for energy organizations seeking to expand internationally. You will:
- Examine the geopolitical challenges inherent to market expansion and integration
- Identify strategies for effectively pursuing international growth opportunities
- Assess international diversification and consolidation activities and trends
- Develop tactics for resolving cross-border disputes
Business–Government Relations
Recent regulations have had a significant impact on traditional energy providers and on producers of alternative and renewable forms of energy. You will:
- Determine how to conduct effective strategic planning in the context of diverse international regulatory environments
- Examine opportunities for coordination among regulatory agencies
- Understand recent developments and trends within national regulatory environments
- Examine the technological, governmental, and public pressures facing alternative energy producers
- Analyze the national and regional market structures across a variety of countries
State-Controlled Markets
In countries that possess their own sources of energy, the state exerts influence over how energy markets evolve. You will:
- Investigate the challenges facing the management of state-controlled energy companies and the influence of politics on transnational firms
- Understand the impact of greater liberalization within energy markets
- Create strategies for navigating negotiated- and regulated-access models
- Assess the incentives and implications involved with developing renewable technologies and reducing greenhouse emissions
- Develop an appropriate course of action when domestic and interstate political and economic relations are tightly entwined
Risk Management
To be effective, risk management programs must address the latest market developments, including price volatility, advances in technology, political uncertainties, and regulatory changes. You will:
- Gain tools for managing risk in price, quantity, and availability
- Analyze investment risks in the context of political uncertainty
- Assess the risks and rewards of geographic and business-line expansion
New Service Providers and Business Models
Today's dynamic energy marketplace has given rise to a host of emerging players and new business models, dramatically altering the competitive landscape. You will:
- Examine disintermediation and its impact on existing and emerging players
- Gain a comprehensive view of the changing competitive environment
- Evaluate the role of alternative industrial organizations
Technological Innovations
Rapid innovations in technology are driving the development of new energy sources and services that enable better management of energy distribution. You will:
- Review key technological innovations that could change how energy is developed and distributed
- Leverage innovations to address unmet marketplace needs
- Address funding challenges and the role of outside investors