Skip to main content

Applied Decision-Making Frameworks

In-person business simulation and leadership immersion

Date
April 18-19, 2024 (in-person)
Location

Smith College, Northampton, MA

Cost
$3,950 USD
Group of five diverse professional women standing together and smiling

Are you ready to elevate your managerial skills and excel as a leader? 

Applied Decision-Making Frameworks is a dynamic management training that leverages a cutting-edge business simulation originally developed at Cornell University. Centered on interactive exercises and hands-on practice, this program provides the tools you need to implement, measure, and refine a course of action to achieve your strategic objectives. 

With a holistic approach to your leadership development in mind, this program offers a unique blend of in-person and virtual training. You'll begin on the Smith College campus, to gain essential technical skills and collaborate with fellow participants as a management team, running your own virtual business.

For the following five weeks, you'll meet virtually with your instructor and team to make critical decisions across key areas such as:

  • Production
  • Operations
  • Finance
  • Marketing

During the simulation, you'll compete against other teams in a vibrant marketplace, and apply the skills you acquire throughout the program.

Applied Decision-Making Frameworks is presented in collaboration with PI Experiential Learning (PIXL).

Experience level
0-5 years in a leadership role
Role

People leaders, project managers, and newly promoted executives.

Ideal participants may have recently transitioned from being an individual contributor to being a supervisor or team leader. 

Prior business education is not required.

Program Contact

Joy McGaugh  |  email: jmcgaugh@smith.edu |  phone: +1-413-585-2798

  • Curriculum

    Unlock your potential and master the following essential competencies:

    Strategy:

    • Analyze markets and develop specific organizational strategies that lead to success.
    • Identify competitor strategies, considering both current market conditions and industry dynamics.
    • Implement strategic decisions effectively to drive business growth.

    Financial and Operations:

    • Use financial statements, including the pro forma income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, to make informed business decisions.
    • Forecast and schedule production efficiently to meet market demand.
    • Adapt pricing strategies to effectively respond to competitive conditions.
    • Comprehend how management decisions influence shareholder return.

    Team Process:

    • Enhance your conflict management skills by recognizing different sources and types of conflict, fostering improved work relationships.
    • Harness the power of group decision-making by facilitating open sharing of opinions and ideas, while mitigating bias and enhancing decision quality.
  • Format

    This program spans 6 transformative weeks:

    • Week 1: You'll engage in 2 days of interactive in-person learning at Smith's campus (Spring 2024)
    • Weeks 2-6: Engagement will continue with weekly 90-minute live online class sessions, supplemented by captivating video instruction and practical written assignments.

    Our flexible format ensures that you can seamlessly integrate this program into your busy schedule while reaping the benefits of a comprehensive learning experience.

  • Faculty

    Stephen Sauer is a Senior Lecturer of Management and Organizations at Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business. His research activities focus on issues of leadership, teams, entrepreneurship, and status and diversity in management.

    Stephen's work has been widely published in academic journals and mainstream media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Forbes.com.

    In addition to founding PIXL, he is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement and Rev: Ithaca Startup Works and is a member of the teaching team for the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Management and Organizational Behavior from Cornell University, where he also earned an MBA and a Master’s in Business and Policy Administration

    .Headshot of Steve Sauer

Stay in Touch