CURRICULUM FOCUS: INTEGRATING BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP

The mission of Smith Executive Education is to develop business leaders of the future. Our vision extends beyond the skills, abilities and knowledge that leaders need to today to helping them compete and succeed in the netcentric age, an increasingly complex marketplace driven by accelerating technological change.

Therefore, our programs for senior executives may cover topics such as e-supply chain integration and management, designing the dynamic organization,e-business models and strategy, information security and consumer privacy, digital global trading practice and policy, data mining, strategic growth of entrepreneurial ventures, creating shareholder value, and issues in international business ethics and emerging markets.

Since individual or self-knowledge is the key that unlocks one's understanding of leadership, teamwork, and effectiveness, we often include 360-degree coaching, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, discussion of life-work balance, and time for thinking using new perspectives. In addition, participants in our programs are encouraged to explore new behaviors that can expand their leadership and strategic thinking skills.

The programs designed by Smith Executive Education for upper mid-level managers are generally more tool-based and typically includes some material from the school's top-ranked MBA curriculum. For example,we might include such topics as managing and motivating employees; financial skills for the non-financial manager; traditional and interactive marketing; communication and negotiation skills; role playing and simulations that emphasize application of these skills and the development of group understanding and team-building skills; globalization;mergers and acquisitions; operations strategy; and managing technology.