Effective Strategies for Media Companies
Leading in Turbulent Environments
Rapid changes in technology and consumer habits are creating new media distribution channels and eliminating entry barriers to content production. While they threaten existing media business models, these disruptive changes create exciting opportunities for today's media organizations. This executive education program helps media organizations craft effective strategies and take full advantage of emerging opportunities.
What You Can Expect
Examining the rapid shifts confronting media organizations of all types, this program uniquely balances legal, market, technology, and organizational perspectives to help executives exploit new trends and develop the most effective media business models amid profound and continuous industry transformation.
Your Course of Study
Designed by HBS faculty with extensive industry experience, Effective Strategies for Media Companies: Leading in Turbulent Environments examines cases and best practices from a wide range of media sectors including print, publishing, radio, television, and music. Case studies and discussions blend diverse functional perspectives as participants confront the two central challenges facing today's media organizations: getting noticed by audiences bombarded with choices, and getting paid for content.
Who Is Right for the Program
This leadership development program is designed for senior media executives at the business-unit or corporate level with functional responsibilities in business development, legal services (inside and outside counsel), strategic planning, or technology.
| Fee: | TBD |
This program also is offered in California
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.
What You Can Expect
Effective Strategies for Media Companies brings together business-side executives, technology specialists, and legal professionals—key experts in crafting effective solutions—to address the major issues facing media companies today.
After analyzing and debating the critical challenges posed by emerging changes in technology and in consumer habits, you will explore how to exploit these new trends. Specifically, you will craft and implement successful strategies, and then examine the organizational changes required to execute these new business models amid profound and continuous industry transformation.
How Will My Organization Benefit?
Executive Education programs at Harvard Business School are a significant investment for both you and your organization. Going far beyond the basic transmission of skills and theories, each leadership development program provides applicable lessons in the classroom that can be implemented successfully within your organization. You will acquire a fresh perspective on global business from our groundbreaking curriculum, world-renowned faculty, and an accomplished group of elite peers from around the world.
"I wanted insight into how our business can take advantage of opportunities provided by modern technology—especially in a downturn, when customers can easily move to other platforms and new competitors can appear from anywhere. This was short program, but we covered a tremendous amount of ground quickly and efficiently. The strategy session was without question the most valuable for me, as it provided insight into how both major players and lesser-known companies have won or lost based on their strategic decisions. This session also provided the opportunity to examine wider trends affecting our industry as well as the critical importance of setting strategic priorities. Another program highlight was the high caliber of people, which led to top-quality interactions and a great learning experience."
John Rossiter [Senior Vice President, Operations & Development], HBO Central Europe, Hungary
Your Course of Study
Designed by HBS faculty with extensive industry experience, the curriculum addresses the central issues that confront media companies. Via relevant case studies and small group sessions, you will:
- Examine companies from a wide range of media industries, including print, publishing, radio, television, and music
- Address issues that are key to each of these arenas and that exemplify industry best practices
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to meet the two central challenges for media organizations today:
- Getting noticed by audiences bombarded with a superabundance of choices
- Getting paid for the content your company provides
- Interact with a group of peers with diverse functional, cultural, and industry backgrounds
The program addresses four themes: the evolution of technology, changes in customer behavior, strategic responses to competing business models, and organizing for innovation.
- Technology
- Identifying central sources of competition amid newly emerging and rapidly evolving technologies
- Formulating strategic moves in an environment of substantial technological uncertainty
- Customer behavior
- Understanding the impact of technology on consumer behavior
- Exploiting customer heterogeneity through new business models
- Customers as innovators
- Business models
- Identifying a range of strategic options: process and idea generation, timing, execution
- Principles behind effective strategies
- Product versus portfolio approaches
- Business versus corporate strategy
- Organization
- Managing change: strategy and process
- Organizational structures and re-design
- Leadership, culture, and strategic change
Who Is Right for the Program
Designed for senior media executives at the business-unit or corporate level with functional responsibilities in the following areas:
- Business Development
- Legal (inside and outside counsel)
- Strategic Planning
- Technology
Visit the admissions section for details about our application process.
"Emerging from the downturn in a stronger competitive position will require ongoing strategy work. This program provided me with an opportunity to step back and reflect, while renewing my motivation and energy to confront strategic issues. The learning environment was terrific, the participants were inspiring, and the curriculum was very practical and to the point."
Knut Ivar Solnes [EVP, Organization & Business Development], Aftenposten AS, Norway
Meet the Program Faculty
Harvard Business School Executive Education programs are developed and taught by a core faculty of HBS professors who are skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Faculty leverage their business expertise and field-based research to create new knowledge and enduring concepts that shape the practice of management. The result is a teaching team that exposes participants to multiple perspectives, challenging their thinking on many levels. For more detailed biographies, click on each faculty name.
Bharat N. Anand, Henry R. Byers Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Strategy Unit; faculty cochair of "Effective Strategies for Media Companies: Leading in Turbulent Environments" and "Effective Strategies for Media Companies: Leading in Turbulent Environments – California."
Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Strategy Unit; faculty chair of "Business Strategy for Partners in Law Firms"; faculty cochair of the "Senior Executive Program for China" and "Effective Strategies for Media Companies."