The information below is based on the program offered in OCT 2020, and does not reflect potential changes to faculty and course content for future program offerings. For a list of upcoming programs, visit our program finder.

Summary

Successful companies maintain their competitive edge by constantly innovating and adapting their strategies. They rely on executives with high "strategic IQ" to diagnose the health of the firm, set priorities for improvement, and drive and sustain superior performance. Designed to help companies boost their strategic intelligence, this business strategy program prepares you to lead a smarter, more nimble, and more profitable organization that can adapt to new realities and thrive in a highly competitive landscape.

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

Summary

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

Key Benefits

When it comes to sustaining a winning strategy, flexibility is key. Focused on diagnosis and action, this business strategy course will help you avoid the fate of companies that rigidly adhere to inflexible strategies and structures. You will emerge with a diagnostic framework for identifying and overcoming organizational inertia, with the analytical skills to anticipate and adjust to strategic change, and with the leadership vision to secure a competitive edge in an ever-evolving business climate.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change

Identify what's holding your company back and set priorities for improvement
Overcome the underlying sources of strategic, structural, and human inertia
Learn from your mistakes, continue to evolve, and pull ahead of the competition

Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change

Design and implement formal structures that readily respond to new circumstances
Leverage informal structures that support the capacity for strategic organizational change
Attract, develop, and retain the people who will enable your firm to thrive in a fast-changing environment

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

Extend your network by living 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

Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change

Identify what's holding your company back and set priorities for improvement
Overcome the underlying sources of strategic, structural, and human inertia
Learn from your mistakes, continue to evolve, and pull ahead of the competition

Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change

Design and implement formal structures that readily respond to new circumstances
Leverage informal structures that support the capacity for strategic organizational change
Attract, develop, and retain the people who will enable your firm to thrive in a fast-changing environment

Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by living 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

Senior executives who significantly influence their firm's strategic direction, organizational design, or human-capital development
Particularly appropriate for: Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief financial officers, chief strategy officers, group or sector vice presidents, human resource directors, and other senior executives

Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact on your organization.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Inside the Classroom

See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Who Should Attend

Senior executives who significantly influence their firm's strategic direction, organizational design, or human-capital development
Particularly appropriate for: Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief financial officers, chief strategy officers, group or sector vice presidents, human resource directors, and other senior executives

Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact on your organization.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Inside the Classroom

See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Learning and Living at HBS

When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

Learning and Living at HBS: When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.

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, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to the program start date. 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. 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.

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

This business strategy course will include faculty presentations, case studies, small group discussions, and individual exercises that boost your strategic IQ and diagnostic skills. Your learning comes to life through an exercise examining pairs of successful companies in the same competitive environment. As you identify why one company collapses and the other flourishes, you will gain a deeper understanding of what drives strategic change and sustains superior performance

What You Will Learn: This business strategy course will include faculty presentations, case studies, small group discussions, and individual exercises that boost your strategic IQ and diagnostic skills. Your learning comes to life through an exercise examining pairs of successful companies in the same competitive environment. As you identify why one company collapses and the other flourishes, you will gain a deeper understanding of what drives strategic change and sustains superior performance

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia

Developing strategies that enhance your company's responsiveness to constant change
Understanding the role of explicit and shared models of past success, shared visions of the future, option generation, creativity, and choice
Knowing when and how to apply strategic scorecards, constructive paranoia, and action-based learning

Smart structure—designing flexible structures Smart structure—designing flexible structures

Building capacity for change directly into the core of your organization
Identifying the levers for transforming traditional enterprises into more nimble companies
Applying self-organizing, edge-oriented structures to fundamentally alter the way business is done

Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning

Recognizing the specific ways your organization is limited by the capacity and willingness of its people to change
Expanding natural ingenuity, harnessing it to strategic goals, and nurturing it in yourself and throughout the firm

Key Topics

Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia

Developing strategies that enhance your company's responsiveness to constant change
Understanding the role of explicit and shared models of past success, shared visions of the future, option generation, creativity, and choice
Knowing when and how to apply strategic scorecards, constructive paranoia, and action-based learning

Smart structure—designing flexible structures

Building capacity for change directly into the core of your organization
Identifying the levers for transforming traditional enterprises into more nimble companies
Applying self-organizing, edge-oriented structures to fundamentally alter the way business is done

Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning

Recognizing the specific ways your organization is limited by the capacity and willingness of its people to change
Expanding natural ingenuity, harnessing it to strategic goals, and nurturing it in yourself and throughout the firm

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.

Faculty Chair

John R. Wells

Professor of Management Practice

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Willis M. Emmons

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

Read Full Bio

Rembrand M. Koning

Assistant Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Strategy

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.

Faculty Chair

John R. Wells

Professor of Management Practice

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Willis M. Emmons

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

Read Full Bio

Rembrand M. Koning

Assistant Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Read Full Bio

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

20%

Africa/Middle East

18%

Asia/Pacific

19%

Europe

Latin America

35%

North America

20%Africa/Middle East

18%Asia/Pacific

19%Europe

8%Latin America

35%North America

Industry Representation

Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.

22%

Financial

12%

High Technology

Nonprofit Services

Manufacturing

Transportation

14%

Other

Professional Services

Raw Materials / Energy

Real Estate / Construction

Consumer Products

Industry Representation

Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.

22%

Financial

12%

High Technology

Nonprofit Services

Manufacturing

Transportation

14%

Other

Professional Services

Raw Materials / Energy

Real Estate / Construction

Consumer Products

Experience

Years worked

Experience

Years worked

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Participating Companies Have Included:

American Tower Corporation

Ericsson

Globo

Lufthansa Systems

Microsoft

Minute Maid

Mitsubishi

Nike

Saudi Telecom Company

Spectra Energy Transmission

Tencent

Your Peers Expand Your Learning: Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

20%

Africa/Middle East

18%

Asia/Pacific

19%

Europe

8%

Latin America

35%

North America

20%Africa/Middle East

18%Asia/Pacific

19%Europe

8%Latin America

35%North America

Industry Representation

Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.

Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.

22%

Financial

12%

High Technology

9%

Nonprofit Services

8%

Manufacturing

5%

Transportation

14%

Other

9%

Professional Services

8%

Raw Materials / Energy

7%

Real Estate / Construction

5%

Consumer Products

Industry Representation

Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.

22%

Financial

12%

High Technology

9%

Nonprofit Services

8%

Manufacturing

5%

Transportation

14%

Other

9%

Professional Services

8%

Raw Materials / Energy

7%

Real Estate / Construction

5%

Consumer Products

Experience

Experience

Years worked

Years worked

Experience

Years worked

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Participating Companies Have Included:

American Tower Corporation

Ericsson

GE

Globo

Lufthansa Systems

Microsoft

Minute Maid

Mitsubishi

Nike

Saudi Telecom Company

Spectra Energy Transmission

Tencent

Download Brochure

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.

Q & A with Professor John R. Wells.

John R. Wells

Faculty Chair

Download Brochure

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

Q & A with Professor John R. Wells.

John R. Wells

Faculty Chair

Download Brochure

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

"What I learned in the program will help me evaluate the potential success of the steps we take as a company."

Sinead Boucher

Group Executive Editor, Fairfax Media Limited, New Zealand

Read Her Story

Download Brochure

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

"What I learned in the program will help me evaluate the potential success of the steps we take as a company."

Sinead Boucher

Group Executive Editor, Fairfax Media Limited, New Zealand

Read Her Story

Download Brochure

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

Related Programs

Explore All Programs Download Program Calendar

Explore All Programs Application PDF

Strategic IQ: Creating Smarter Corporations

Q & A with Professor John R. Wells.

Q & A with Professor John R. Wells.

"What I learned in the program will help me evaluate the potential success of the steps we take as a company."

"What I learned in the program will help me evaluate the potential success of the steps we take as a company."

Summary

Summary

DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to changeEvaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change Dropdown up

Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic changeCreate a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change Dropdown up

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

Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change

Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change

Expand your personal and professional network

Who Should Attend

Who Should Attend

Learning and Living at HBS

Learning and Living at HBS

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

Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All

Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertiaSmart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia Dropdown up

Smart structure—designing flexible structuresSmart structure—designing flexible structures Dropdown up

Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learningSmart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning Dropdown up

Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia

Smart structure—designing flexible structures

Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning

The HBS Advantage

The HBS Advantage

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Q & A with Professor John R. Wells.

Q & A with Professor John R. Wells.

"What I learned in the program will help me evaluate the potential success of the steps we take as a company."

"What I learned in the program will help me evaluate the potential success of the steps we take as a company."

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change Evaluate your organization's challenges in responding to change

Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change Create a smart enterprise with the capacity for constant strategic change

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

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia Smart business strategy—overcoming strategic inertia

Smart structure—designing flexible structures Smart structure—designing flexible structures

Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning Smart minds—developing human capacity for change and learning