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H a r v a r d | B u s i n e s s | S c h o o lExecutive Education

Need Help? Contact Us: Program Advising team Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

New Program

Disruptive Innovation—Virtual

Dates: 30 NOV–11 DEC 2020

Location: Virtual

Fee: $7,500

The program fee covers tuition, e-books, and online case materials.

This program includes live online classes, self-paced work, discussion groups, and virtual networking. Download brochure for detailed schedule.

Summary

More than 20 years ago, Clayton Christensen introduced a revolutionary concept that transformed the business world: disruptive innovation. In this live online program, Christensen's hand-selected teaching team will help strategic decision-makers understand how disruption works and determine when and how to invest in core versus disruptive business models, as well as how to mount an effective defense against disruption. As you gain insight into the ways that evolving industries, technologies, and competitive forces can affect your business, you will be better prepared to harness innovation, lead breakthrough change, and sustain enterprise success.

You may also be interested in the related in-person program: Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More

Summary

You may also be interested in the related in-person program: Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More

Key Benefits

Examining disruption and strategic decision-making through the lens of Christensen's transformative theory, you will gain a deeper understanding of the levers that drive resource allocation and organizational growth. With the ability to spot potential threats and opportunities sooner and make the right strategic moves faster, you will be ready to drive innovation and position your organization for long-term success.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Analyze how the structure of an industry may change
Avoid having your business disrupted by others
Achieve differentiation and better margins
Assess your company's capabilities
Sustain core businesses while enabling innovation
Avert common problems that lead companies into decline

Drive innovation Drive innovation

Align your organization around innovation initiatives
Rethink your product, market and strategy
Apply disruptive theories to complex problems and opportunities
Build the skills and vision critical to leading change

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Adopt a strategic mindset and skillset
Apply theories of causality to understand why things happen the way they do
Accurately predict the impact of strategic actions
Better articulate your strategic questions and goals
Assess the risks and opportunities presented by actions such as:

Ignoring sunk costs and making decisions at the margin
Understanding when to implement a strategy of low-cost positioning—and when not to
Examining when to scale fast to take advantage of network effects
Learning how to outsource activities that are not your current core competence, which can lead to commoditization as your industry evolves
Finding the right way to source new leaders from inside the firm, and when it is better to look outside

Expand your personal and professional network Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by connecting and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions

Key Benefits

Details

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Analyze how the structure of an industry may change
Avoid having your business disrupted by others
Achieve differentiation and better margins
Assess your company's capabilities
Sustain core businesses while enabling innovation
Avert common problems that lead companies into decline

Drive innovation

Align your organization around innovation initiatives
Rethink your product, market and strategy
Apply disruptive theories to complex problems and opportunities
Build the skills and vision critical to leading change

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Adopt a strategic mindset and skillset
Apply theories of causality to understand why things happen the way they do
Accurately predict the impact of strategic actions
Better articulate your strategic questions and goals
Assess the risks and opportunities presented by actions such as:

Ignoring sunk costs and making decisions at the margin
Understanding when to implement a strategy of low-cost positioning—and when not to
Examining when to scale fast to take advantage of network effects
Learning how to outsource activities that are not your current core competence, which can lead to commoditization as your industry evolves
Finding the right way to source new leaders from inside the firm, and when it is better to look outside

Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by connecting and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions

Who Should Attend

The program is appropriate for senior executives, general managers, or business owners who are responsible for setting strategic direction for their organizations.

Attendance by two or more individuals from your organization will foster teamwork and help to lift the lessons of the course out of the classroom and into constructive plans and actions.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Who Should Attend

The program is appropriate for senior executives, general managers, or business owners who are responsible for setting strategic direction for their organizations.

Attendance by two or more individuals from your organization will foster teamwork and help to lift the lessons of the course out of the classroom and into constructive plans and actions.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Leaders in Virtual Learning

When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

Leaders in Virtual Learning: When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

Admissions Criteria and Process

We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

Answering Your Questions

Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals. Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

Application Review

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, e-books, and online case materials. No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to the program start date. If you need to cancel participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 14 days before the program start date to receive a full refund. Cancellations received 7 to 14 days before the program start date are subject to a payment of 50 percent of the program fee. Requests received within 7 days of the program start date are subject to full payment of the program fee.

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

Program content, dates, schedule, fees, technology platforms, 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 Will Learn

Created by Clayton Christensen and led by his teaching team, this virtual program offers the opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience through presentations, carefully chosen case studies, and small-group discussions. In this program you will examine the strategies of both disruptors and the disrupted. You'll discover why some strategies succeeded while others failed, and learn how to apply these insights to your own strategic decisions.

What You Will Learn: Created by Clayton Christensen and led by his teaching team, this virtual program offers the opportunity to engage in a dynamic learning experience through presentations, carefully chosen case studies, and small-group discussions. In this program you will examine the strategies of both disruptors and the disrupted. You'll discover why some strategies succeeded while others failed, and learn how to apply these insights to your own strategic decisions.

Program Format

The program takes place over two weeks, with live, synchronous classes each day, discussion groups and one networking activity. In addition, participants can expect to spend 3 hours per day with self-paced work.

Collaborative learning is an integral part of the experience. To maximize the benefit for everyone, you are expected to attend every session, complete all assignments, and contribute effectively in the class and in small groups.

Program Format

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Disruption and your strategy Disruption and your strategy

What does disruption really mean—and how does it work?
How can you tell when a potential disruptor is going to be successful?
What is the signal that an industry is about to commoditize? How do you position to take advantage of that shift?
How do you set strategy in a world that is changing so rapidly? What do you do when what you know is vastly outweighed by what you don't know?

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities

Whose investment capital will help you succeed, and whose money might poison your chances?
Who is your ideal target customer, and how can selecting the wrong customers kill your brand?
What is the hidden danger of core competence theory? How should you decide which activities to keep in-house and which to outsource?
Should you make acquisitions as a means of building capability? If so, should you integrate them or keep them separate?

Key Topics

Disruption and your strategy

What does disruption really mean—and how does it work?
How can you tell when a potential disruptor is going to be successful?
What is the signal that an industry is about to commoditize? How do you position to take advantage of that shift?
How do you set strategy in a world that is changing so rapidly? What do you do when what you know is vastly outweighed by what you don't know?

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities

Whose investment capital will help you succeed, and whose money might poison your chances?
Who is your ideal target customer, and how can selecting the wrong customers kill your brand?
What is the hidden danger of core competence theory? How should you decide which activities to keep in-house and which to outsource?
Should you make acquisitions as a means of building capability? If so, should you integrate them or keep them separate?

The HBS Advantage

Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Program Founder, Clayton Christensen defines his "jobs-to-be-done" theory.

Faculty Cochairs

Chester A. Huber

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Rory M. McDonald

Thai-Hi T. Lee (MBA 1985) Associate Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Derek C. M. van Bever

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Stephen P. Kaufman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Allison H. Mnookin

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Willy C. Shih

Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

The HBS Advantage: Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.

Program Founder, Clayton Christensen defines his "jobs-to-be-done" theory.

Read More

Program Founder, Clayton Christensen defines his "jobs-to-be-done" theory.

Read More

Faculty Cochairs

Chester A. Huber

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Rory M. McDonald

Thai-Hi T. Lee (MBA 1985) Associate Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Derek C. M. van Bever

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

General Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Stephen P. Kaufman

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Allison H. Mnookin

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Willy C. Shih

Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Management Practice in Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Summary

Summary

DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industryCreate and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry Dropdown up

Drive innovationDrive innovation Dropdown up

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworksMake better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks Dropdown up

Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network Dropdown up

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Drive innovation

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Expand your personal and professional network

Who Should Attend

Leaders in Virtual Learning

Leaders in Virtual Learning

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

What You Will Learn

Program Format

Program Format

Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All

Disruption and your strategyDisruption and your strategy Dropdown up

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilitiesControlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities Dropdown up

Disruption and your strategy

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities

The HBS Advantage

The HBS Advantage

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry Create and sustain a strong position in an evolving industry

Drive innovation Drive innovation

Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks Make better decisions through strategic analysis and predictive frameworks

Expand your personal and professional network Expand your personal and professional network

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Disruption and your strategy Disruption and your strategy

Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities Controlling your destiny: market, resources, and capabilities