Strategy: Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage
- Upcoming Sessions
- (1 of 2)
- Dates: 10–15 DEC 2023
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $17,000
- Dates: 02–07 JUN 2024
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $17,000
"The CME programs work very well together and have enhanced my skills as a negotiator, a team leader, and a board member."
"The CME programs work very well together and have enhanced my skills as a negotiator, a team leader, and a board member."
"I learned that it's important to stop and refocus on what's going to drive the core business."
"I learned that it's important to stop and refocus on what's going to drive the core business."
Summary
In the fight for market leadership and the continuous drive toward improved returns, your company needs to devise an effective strategy—and execute it flawlessly. This program prepares you to tackle or lead that challenge in all its aspects, from deciding in which markets to compete and building a lasting competitive advantage to outsmarting competitors, capturing opportunities, and expanding into new markets and geographies.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
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Summary
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In the fight for market leadership and the continuous drive toward improved returns, your company needs to devise an effective strategy—and execute it flawlessly. This program prepares you to tackle or lead that challenge in all its aspects, from deciding in which markets to compete and building a lasting competitive advantage to outsmarting competitors, capturing opportunities, and expanding into new markets and geographies.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Design and evolve effective strategiesDesign and evolve effective strategies
- Identify potential sources of advantage in your industry and geography
- Distinguish between short-run gains and lasting competitive advantage
- Adapt your strategy to market shifts and your organization's changing ambitions
Transform ideas into successful action plansTransform ideas into successful action plans
- Know when to initiate a strategy change versus when to stick to the current strategy
- Analyze strategic tradeoffs as you identify the resources and changes needed to execute your strategy
- Execute and coordinate strategy across multiple lines of business and global markets
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand 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
Design and evolve effective strategies
- Identify potential sources of advantage in your industry and geography
- Distinguish between short-run gains and lasting competitive advantage
- Adapt your strategy to market shifts and your organization's changing ambitions
Transform ideas into successful action plans
- Know when to initiate a strategy change versus when to stick to the current strategy
- Analyze strategic tradeoffs as you identify the resources and changes needed to execute your strategy
- Execute and coordinate strategy across multiple lines of business and global markets
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
- Chief executive officer, chief operating officer, divisional president, and vice president
- Chief financial officer, chief innovation officer, and chief strategy officer
- Managing director, general manager, and director
This program is appropriate for senior executives who are responsible for developing and implementing competitive strategy for a company or business unit, such as:
Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
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Who Should Attend
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- Chief executive officer, chief operating officer, divisional president, and vice president
- Chief financial officer, chief innovation officer, and chief strategy officer
- Managing director, general manager, and director
This program is appropriate for senior executives who are responsible for developing and implementing competitive strategy for a company or business unit, such as:
Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Dive Deeper into the Experience
See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.
Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.
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.
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Learning and Living at HBS
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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
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
The program focuses on the principles for gaining, sustaining, and deploying competitive advantage and on the fundamentals of competitive interactions—as these principles form the basis of all strategic decisions. Through a combination of interactive faculty presentations, group discussions, and classic and recent case studies, you will dig into why some strategies fail and others succeed. You will acquire both general frameworks and specific tools, and gain hands-on practice in making strategic decisions.
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What You Will Learn
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The program focuses on the principles for gaining, sustaining, and deploying competitive advantage and on the fundamentals of competitive interactions—as these principles form the basis of all strategic decisions. Through a combination of interactive faculty presentations, group discussions, and classic and recent case studies, you will dig into why some strategies fail and others succeed. You will acquire both general frameworks and specific tools, and gain hands-on practice in making strategic decisions.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
Competitive advantageCompetitive advantage
- Assessing a market's attractiveness and key market trends
- Pinpointing opportunities for advantage and activating them
- Making competitive advantage durable
CompetitionCompetition
- Understanding your competitors and anticipating competitor moves
- Outsmarting your competitors
- Choosing when to commit versus when to respond
Corporate and global strategyCorporate and global strategy
- Deploying competitive advantage to other markets
- Gaining from combining multiple businesses
- Competing globally
Innovation and changeInnovation and change
- Driving innovation strategy
- Anticipating the need to change strategy
- Executing effective strategy change
Strategy and strategic thinkingStrategy and strategic thinking
- Leveraging strategy to drive your organization
- Sharpening your strategic thinking
Competitive advantage
- Assessing a market's attractiveness and key market trends
- Pinpointing opportunities for advantage and activating them
- Making competitive advantage durable
Competition
- Understanding your competitors and anticipating competitor moves
- Outsmarting your competitors
- Choosing when to commit versus when to respond
Corporate and global strategy
- Deploying competitive advantage to other markets
- Gaining from combining multiple businesses
- Competing globally
Innovation and change
- Driving innovation strategy
- Anticipating the need to change strategy
- Executing effective strategy change
Strategy and strategic thinking
- Leveraging strategy to drive your organization
- Sharpening your strategic thinking
Implementation Exercises
To help you move from strategy to implementation, one of the program’s sessions provides a blueprint to apply key lessons to your own company. Focused on identifying opportunities for profitable differentiation, this hands-on exercise helps you assess your company's positioning relative to competitors and pinpoint the most promising avenues for improvement and growth. This helps you to decide how to deploy your organization's resources to maximum effect.
Please note: The entire program is conducted with strict confidentiality. Any information on your company shared during program discussions is treated as completely private, and all feedback is considered proprietary to the companies involved.
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Implementation Exercises
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To help you move from strategy to implementation, one of the program’s sessions provides a blueprint to apply key lessons to your own company. Focused on identifying opportunities for profitable differentiation, this hands-on exercise helps you assess your company's positioning relative to competitors and pinpoint the most promising avenues for improvement and growth. This helps you to decide how to deploy your organization's resources to maximum effect.
Please note: The entire program is conducted with strict confidentiality. Any information on your company shared during program discussions is treated as completely private, and all feedback is considered proprietary to the companies involved.
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.
Royal Little Professor of Business Administration
Herman C. Krannert Professor of Business Administration
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration and C. Roland Christensen Distinguished Management Educator
C. Roland Christensen Professor of Business Administration
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The HBS Advantage
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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
Royal Little Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:StrategyFacultyHerman C. Krannert Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:StrategySenior Lecturer of Business Administration and C. Roland Christensen Distinguished Management Educator
HBS Unit:StrategyC. Roland Christensen Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Strategy
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.3%Africa16%Asia Pacific20%Europe14%Latin America8%Middle East39%North America3%Africa16%Asia Pacific20%Europe14%Latin America8%Middle East39%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.19%Financial13%Professional Services10%Chem / Pharma / Bio10%Manufacturing9%Raw Materials / Energy8%High Technology6%Real Estate / Construction4%Transportation3%Health Care3%Nonprofit ServicesTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.19%Financial13%Professional Services10%Chem / Pharma / Bio10%Manufacturing9%Raw Materials / Energy8%High Technology6%Real Estate / Construction4%Transportation3%Health Care3%Nonprofit ServicesExperienceExperienceYears workedYears workedExperienceYears workedLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 years or more40 years or moreLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 years or more40 years or more
"The CME programs work very well together and have enhanced my skills as a negotiator, a team leader, and a board member."