In more detail | RoundTables

Managing Around the World is designed to explore how things get done in a cross-cultural world, and how to work more effectively. Participants and faculty collaborate in a structured process of analysis, representation, and friendly consulting.

The programme is in 3 parts: the purpose and nature of managerial work and leadership in complex situations; a look at how leadership is accomplished in a number of other companies; and application to your own circumstances. The contribution of each individual is key, as we are concerned with the reality of leading and managing - however complex it might seem.

Participants must have current managerial responsibilities. Many attend as part of their Executive MBA programmes at leading international business schools. Others are entrepreneurs or employees of international and local companies, and we keep a few places for professional consultants, policy-makers and political leaders.

This workshop is the basis for proven organisation, management and leadership development interventions, so we also offer a special track for OD and learning professionals to hone, share and perhaps radically redefine your practice. This is an essential requirement if you want to license and run this programme and adapt its various techniques in your own setting. Please ask for details of the facilitator track.

The one week module features:

World-class faculty who work alongside participants throughout.
Thought-provoking debate and focused enquiry into your own organisation
Unique networking opportunities
Advanced skills in observation, analysis and interpretation.
Friendly consultation and feedback on your own managerial practice.

If you want to know how to manage with more impact and better connections to the people around you, this course is for you. You will analyse in detail the main challenges you face, with input from International faculty and – even more importantly – experienced managers from around the world. This is an unusual opportunity to examine the complex reality you manage, especially the aspects that cant be solved by an off-the-shelf quick fix. Rather, you will be guided through a ‘slow fix’ – and by the end of the week you will be clear about what to do.

At the same time you will have gained deep insight into management in other cultures and industries, working on the challenges faced by peers from all over the world – experienced managers dedicated to a level of understanding that goes beyond abstract theory or first impressions.

This course is about connecting – to peers, to your values, to humane and effective ways of managing. We look forward to getting to know you and the managerial challenges you face.

Managing Around the World: RoundTables for Experienced Managers is a one-week intensive course for people who find themselves leading and managing in complex environments. Now in its 15th year, the course has a reputation for both thoughtfulness and pragmatism. The course is unusual in several ways: it is centred around the current managerial challenges that participants face in their jobs; there are very few formal lectures – but skilled and experienced faculty work alongside participants in structured activities – not role-play or management games: but detailed and sustained analysis, based on innovative concepts and techniques.

Note that as part of this process you will interview some managers in another participant's organisation. You will also have to arrange for 2 - 3 of your work colleagues (or other stakeholders) to be interviewed on-line at specific times during the course. Details and guidance will be provided for how to make this successful and fruitful for you and your colleagues

Some of these are described in more detail on this website; but often the most important ingredients are the conversations that happen in between, amongst participants and with faculty.

Monday

Setting up the learning network

Introducing the resources in the group and our way of working. Focus on managing and leading – How are they done, in practice?

Tuesday

Below the Surface of Management

Concepts and skills for working with the complex realities of being human, being creative and being part of a wider world

Wednesday

Accomplishing Management

In-depth observations

observations and interviews with managers in other organisations, to understand power, responsibility and getting things done.

Thursday

Managing In Action

Case-by-case consultation on the actions you can take.

Friday

Impact That Matters

The effects of good management on wider society and value-creation.

We think in terms of three sorts of learning on the RoundTables for Experienced Managers (RTs) programme, which are invaluable to the development of the students on our MBA programme. Learning about content; learning from process; and learning from context. Content traditionally dominates MBA programmes, provided by faculty in formal presentations and lectures. At the RTs, content by faculty and representatives of various organisations means only the start of the potential learning.

The primary source of content is engaging with other managers from across the world, much more than what could be achieved in class. Indeed, the process followed at the RTs focus on interactive and informative discussions and activities, designed to probe deeply into the resources that all the participants (as well as faculty) bring to the event. As such, participants learn more about themselves and about how activities can be well managed from the process of working with fellow participants and the practices of management. Learnings and observations are integrated and embedded through reflective processes. The RTs process also provide tools to take back home and work with.

The specific context of the RTs provide an invaluable experience to MBA students, with participants and faculty representing many different cultures, from many different countries and business sectors, in a unique context. When our students observe and experience a different context closely and sensitively – and then consider their reactions carefully – they discover an enormous amount about ourselves and our managerial challenges. The new context becomes a mirror reflecting back to them all sorts of new understanding of themselves as individuals, leaders and managers.

The seamless and unique integration of content, process and context provide an unrivalled developmental opportunity to any person. In the words of one recent MBA participant: “The setup of the programme in itself is fantastic. There is nothing but praise from my side as the teachings and frameworks really exposed me to new ways of thinking and contributed to my personal growth."