Client Success Stories
Strategic Planning Process Requires a Common Framework and New Ideas
Business challenge:
A large IT consulting, systems integrator and outsourcing organization with over 75,000 employees was about to embark on a new strategic planning exercise involving many of its senior management. The knowledge and skills of the working group was diverse and there was a need to accelerate the process with a common approach and framework without sacrificing the input of all the stakeholders.
Solution:
The client team (approximately 30 managers) completed eCornell's Strategic Thinking and Scenario Planning courses (components of eCornell's Executive Leadership series) in dedicated course sections. In these private, online courses, participants were encouraged to share confidential company information that related to the course content and was critical to the strategic planning process.
The course instructor not only provided coaching and feedback to the participants, but also collated and analyzed the variety of course projects for emerging and relevant themes that could fuel the strategic planning process.
Upon completion of the online courses and analysis of the course projects, Michael J. Hostetler, Director of Leadership Studies at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, worked with the group on specific actions that the client could undertake to strengthen their leadership.
Outcomes:
The client has a successful template for using online learning with a leadership population. The organization has widened the participation to include their high-potential management group-the top 1% of the firm. The participants will complete certificates in Executive Leadership and Proactive Leadership studies as part of a year-long focus on the firm's strategic growth plans. eCornell's Ivy Learning Partner program provides a blend of content and services to support the program.
