Through interesting live-virtual class discussions around business case studies, you'll learn to analyze problems from multiple perspectives, evaluate business issues with incomplete data, and present actionable recommendations. You'll gain new insights from the academic concepts presented in virtual interactive exercises, and assignments allow you to practice management principles that you can use immediately at work.

This live-streaming virtual course consists of:

• Four live-virtual sessions lasting 2 hours each
• Sessions held within the span of one work week
• Pre-session readings and questions to address to familiarize yourself with the session topic(s)
• A one-hour orientation session held the week prior to the start of the program

Classes will be held using Zoom video-conferencing, which creates a virtual classroom where you can see the professor and presentation screen, as well as seeing the other participants. Similarly, the professor can see all of the students who engage online during the group session. You’ll be able to communicate with both the professor and your peers through this platform. 

To participate in this course you must have a working webcam and microphone, and have downloaded the Zoom Cloud Meeting app onto your laptop.

Before each class session, you will need to do the following:

1. View the videos
2. Read the case

These pre-class activities take about 2 to 3 hours per session. We ask that these be done before the class session in order to facilitate a richer discussion.

We’ll send you an access link to the Canvas learning platform before the orientation session. You’ll create a OneLink account, after which you’ll link to Fuqua. You'll then have access to the Canvas learning platform. The learning platform supports Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox, but not Internet Explorer.

If you have questions about any of these requirements, call the Duke Executive Education team at +1.919.660.8011 or Toll Free +1.800.372.3932, or email us at execed-info@duke.edu.

Topics

Designing and implementing effective management systems enables you to organize your work, distribute assignments across groups or individuals, coordinate interdependent tasks, and to continue to communicate with and motivate your team in a manner that improves performance. Understanding and drawing from key organizational principles will help this improvement become a reality.

• Incentives and Motivation: We discuss how to facilitate superior performance through the use of pay-for-performance, bonuses, goals, and non-contingent pay systems. Topics include the limitations of pay as a motivator and the fit between compensation and culture.
• Organizational Design and Culture: We focus on diagnosing internal and external issues that confront organizations, and identifying principles for selecting the organizational structure most appropriate for that situation. We then consider how shared values and norms in organizations shape how individuals make sense of each other, work, achievements, and other factors. We discuss the challenges of creating shared culture when people are located in disparate geographies.
• Decision Making and Teams: We consider the effectiveness of individuals and groups in making organizational decisions. We identify group processes that foster diversity of knowledge, avoid disruptive conflict, and harness constructive social influence to achieve superior group outcomes across a range of group tasks. We consider the challenges created by working virtually in teams that are distributed in different locations.

Program Objectives

At the conclusion of the program, you will be able to:

• Identify weak links in a system that tries to use pay-for-performance
• Understand the nature of decision biases and tools to make better individual and team decisions
• Add new tools for building cohesion in a team to you skills toolbox
• Know the basic tradeoffs that underlie organizational design decisions
• Decide when and where to "empower" people to make their own decisions
• Draw on culture as a systematic part of organizational success (instead of a source of  cynicism)

Drawing insights from science to enhance practice, the program dives into multiple aspects of effective management informed by the latest research in behavioral economics, decision analysis, motivation, social networks, teams, negotiations, power and politics, and ethics.

Discussion Topics

1. Advanced Decision-Making Techniques
   
   • Identifying and avoiding decision traps
   • Strategic planning and effective decision frameworks
2. Employee Motivation and Engagement
   
   • Analyzing motivators and demotivators
   • Strategies for enhancing employee motivation
   • The role of fairness in motivation and feedback
3. Power and Influence in Leadership
   
   • Understanding personal and hierarchical power dynamics
   • Leveraging power for resource development and organizational success
4. Effective Negotiation Strategies
   
   • Problem-solving approaches in negotiations
   • Building relationships through effective negotiation practices
5. Team Dynamics and Management
   
   • Fostering creativity and commitment within teams
   • Implementing processes that support positive team dynamics
6. Organizational Structure and Culture
   
   • Viewing the organization as an interconnected system
   • Aligning structures, procedures, and culture for employee and organizational success

At the conclusion of the program you’ll be able to:

• Evaluate Decision-Making Processes
  Critically evaluate and refine decision-making processes by identifying and mitigating common decision traps, thereby enhancing strategic planning and organizational outcomes.
• Analyze and Design Motivation Strategies
  Analyze the underlying factors that influence employee motivation and demotivation, and design tailored strategies that effectively enhance motivation and performance across diverse teams.
• Assess and Apply Fairness Principles
  Assess the impact of fairness in motivation and feedback mechanisms, and apply these principles to create an equitable and motivating work environment.
• Leverage Power for Organizational Success
  Synthesize knowledge of personal and hierarchical power dynamics to strategically develop and allocate resources that drive productive outcomes within the organization.
• Integrate Problem-Solving in Negotiations
  Formulate and implement negotiation strategies that prioritize problem-solving, fostering both the achievement of organizational goals and the strengthening of professional relationships.
• Facilitate Team Dynamics and Processes
  Design and implement management practices that promote positive team dynamics, creativity, and commitment, ensuring successful project execution and organizational growth.
• Systematically Align Organizational Elements
  Critically assess the organization as an interconnected system of structures, procedures, and culture, and develop strategies to align these elements to support employee success and overall organizational effectiveness.

The in-person Duke Management Program offers a dynamic, immersive learning experience designed to transform your leadership skills. Conducted on Duke University's campus over 3 days, the program fosters deep engagement through case study, group discussions, and real-world simulations. Participants collaborate with peers and faculty, allowing for rich exchanges of ideas and perspectives. The format emphasizes hands-on learning, where you’ll tackle complex challenges, apply strategic frameworks, and receive personalized feedback. This face-to-face environment not only enhances your ability to absorb and apply new concepts but also helps you build lasting professional relationships with a network of fellow leaders.