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Strategic knowledge is a basic requirement in general management and is one of the most essential skills of a successful manager. Basic content on strategy development and execution is therefore already taught during the course of study.

The fact that education does not end with a successful degree has been evident for some time in the development of the continuing education market, in which lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important. This is also confirmed by Dr. Rebecca Winkelmann, Managing Director WHU Executive Education: "Even the Corona crisis was only able to slow down the demand for high-quality continuing education formats for a short time. Especially now, with falling infection figures, we are noticing an increased demand for interactive face-to-face formats that focus on the personal exchange of participants. After months of managers and executives having to act and lead from their desks at home, they want now more than ever a direct, personal exchange to learn from each other."

Due to the high relevance of the content and demand, WHU has developed a new continuing education program for experienced managers that employs experiments, role playing (derived from war gaming) and AI-supported computer simulations to teach strategic thinking, decision-making and action: the "Strategic Decision-Making Program." The program thus adds another strategy format to the portfolio of Executive Education programs at WHU, alongside the already firmly established “Strategy Essentials Program”. "In this way, we can offer participants a continuing education opportunity at every stage of their professional lives," says Rebecca Winkelmann.

The three-day intensive program is designed as an on-site "training camp" so that participants are challenged as strategists and a direct transfer to their own everyday work is encouraged. A digital learning platform serves as program preparation and introduction to the Business Simulation Game used during the program. In the fall of 2021 (October 20th – 22nd), the first program will take place at the modern WHU Campus Düsseldorf. As with all executive education formats at WHU, in addition to the program content and varied didactic methods, the focus is particularly on networking elements, which are intended to initiate networking among participants after the program.

For more information, please visit the program website.

In September, the first open WHU Executive Education program started at WHU Campus Düsseldorf. In this first five-day module of the program 12 participants from South Africa, Germany, Mexico and Brazil learned the basics of Strategy and Accelerated Skill Development.

Moreover, they started to work on the “Business Impact Project”: In cooperation with the non-profit organization BOOKBRIDGE, they will create a business plan for a learning center in Cambodia. During the fourth module of the 21-day program, the group will travel to Cambodia to implement the business plan on-site. In the evening, Carsten Rübsaamen, BOOKBRIDGE, gave a lively introduction to Cambodia.

The next module in December will focus on Leadership, Business Functions, and Change Management. In the meantime, participants will continue working on the Business Impact Project in virtual team workshops and will contact local project partners.

WHU Executive Education is launching a new Open Enrollment Program teaching General Management skills. This pilot program has emerged from two very successful components and now combines four modules in nine months, 15 days of teaching, and 7 days real-life project launching in an Emerging Country.

During top-end lectures from WHU professors, important elements of general management will be taught in a dynamic way, and participants will be inspired to think creatively and gain confidence by discussing issues with fellow participants and faculty, case simulations, and peer discussions. By studying both the best practices of successful companies and the mistakes that have derailed others, you will learn how to identify the optimal structure for your department, assess and respond to rapidly changing markets, evaluate product- and business models and rank investment opportunities.

The theory will be put into practice by developing a real-life social enterprise, known as the Business Impact Project. With the professional guidance of BOOKBRIDGE participants are challenged to write and implement a business plan for a learning center in a desolate area of Cambodia. During the program, the participants will develop this center using their knowledge from the program and with close communication to local sources. During the fourth module, the plan will be implemented in real-life on-site in Cambodia.
The program helps business leaders to decide how to allocate resources, manage people and risk and deliver the return their shareholders demand. Through case studies, lectures, dynamic peer discussions, and the Business Impact Project in Cambodia, the program will demonstrate how to competitively position an organization for success.

The deadline for application for this program is August 9, 2013.

The scope of duties of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) has expanded considerably in recent years. CIOs take on a broad range of responsibilities, and their leadership extends far beyond information and communications management in a company.

In light of these wide-reaching changes in the role of the CIO, the Executive Education branch of WHU, together with the specialized business magazine CIO, has developed a furthering education program that specifically develops the leadership competence and general management skills of IT managers. Supported by HP and the CIO Foundation, the "CIO Leadership Excellence Program" has successfully started as the first program of its kind in Germany. The participants comprise a total of 19 topnotch IT managers from different companies, including Henkel, Hilti and SMA Solar Technology.

The program is explicitly designed to allow the participants to analyze, structure, and address the strategic challenges of companies from the perspective of management and the business division, using a targeted set of approaches. Class content and teaching methods are specifically designed for the target group of executives: senior managers who already possess many years of professional and leadership experience and who can actively contribute their experience in class. The furthering education program places particular emphasis on a dynamic and competitive environment as well as on the opportunities and risk profiles of emerging economies.

The "CIO Leadership Excellence Program" consists of a total of three modules: a basis module with an emphasis on general management at the WHU campus in Vallendar as well as two international modules in India (Mumbai and Bangalore) and in China. Emerging markets form the special focus of the two international modules.

The innovative IT business magazine CIO brings together two things that belong together in the closely networked economy of the 21st century: IT and business. IT is increasingly coming into focus as companies set goals for the future. The reason: reducing costs, optimizing customer relationships, and increasing productivity are only possible with strategic, expedient use of new technologies. “CIO – IT Strategy for Managers” has been a member of IDG Business Media GmbH since October 2001. Since 1974 they have been the specialist for B2B communication in the German-speaking field of IT and technical communications.