Managing Breakthroughs—From Science to Enterprise

Thank you for your interest in Executive Education at Harvard Business School. The July 2009 program has been postponed. You may wish to consider applying to Leadership and Strategy in Pharmaceuticals and Biotech or another innovation program.

Current market conditions have raised the stakes for leaders who rely on scientific breakthroughs to grow their businesses and for entrepreneurs who want to start new enterprises. Once viewed as a high-risk, long-term strategy, scientific innovation has become crucial to achieving long-term sustainability. This program examines and explores what innovation-dependent organizations around the world are doing in turbulent times to successfully identify, capture, and translate scientific breakthroughs into opportunity—enabling you to return to your organization with actionable strategies for applying these best-in-class practices for competitive advantage.

What You Can Expect
This leadership development program helps executives become better managers and leaders by examining a variety of innovation models and organizational structures and the circumstances under which each has been most effective. Participants will hone their decision-making capabilities and discover how to identify and manage breakthroughs, weigh opportunities against ongoing development investments, find sources of capital, and attract and retain top scientific talent.

Your Course of Study
Complementing the program's interactive classroom discussions and lectures, the curriculum features an array of real-world case studies from a wide range of public and private organizations in which breakthrough science shapes the business strategy, bringing to life today's defining issues. With a focus on three critical areas—innovation and strategy, organization and leadership, and resource allocation and decision making—the agenda examines such topics as linking scientific innovation to unmet marketplace needs; identifying the attributes of successful organizations and leaders; and strategically positioning your enterprise in a changing world.

Who Is Right for the Program
This executive education program is created for senior leaders who work in new or established organizations that utilize scientific breakthroughs to advance their businesses. Appropriate for chief executive officers, chief science officers, chief technology officers, directors of business development, directors of research and development, and managers who are about to move into these positions, this program is also suitable for entrepreneurs and academic leaders—including deans and provosts.

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

Programs, dates, fees, and faculty are subject to change.

In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.