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Why Smart Executives Fail

Common Mistakes & Warning Signs

We don’t often talk about mistakes and failures, but there’s so much to learn from what goes wrong. In this course, Professor Sydney Finkelstein will teach you why leaders make mistakes, and what you can do to avoid making those same mistakes yourself. Using real-life examples of smart executives who failed, Professor Finkelstein will walk you through scenarios that prepare you to understand, manage, and even take advantage of the continuous change that is inevitable in organizations and in life.

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What's inside

Syllabus

What Great Strategists Know

The Delusions of a Dream Company

The Manager as Master Puzzle Solver

The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Emphasizes the importance of understanding mistakes and their impact on leadership

Provides real-life examples of successful executives who made mistakes

Walks learners through scenarios that help develop their understanding of change management

Taught by Sydney Finkelstein, a renowned professor specializing in strategy and leadership

Focuses on developing strategies to capitalize on continuous change

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Why Smart Executives Fail: Common Mistakes & Warning Signs with these activities:

Read 'The Innovator's Dilemma' by Clayton M. Christensen

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Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of strategic innovation in the face of disruptive technologies.

View The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books) on Amazon

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Read and analyze the book, taking notes on key concepts and arguments.
Identify and discuss the implications of the book's findings for strategic planning in your own field.
Consider developing a presentation or summary to share your learnings with others.

Volunteer for a Non-Profit Organization

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Gain practical experience in strategic planning and decision-making by volunteering with a non-profit organization.

Browse courses on Non-Profit Management

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Identify a non-profit organization whose mission and values align with your interests.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteering opportunities.
Participate in strategic planning meetings or committees, providing input and support.
Assist with the implementation and evaluation of strategic initiatives.

Strategic Planning Group Discussions

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Engage in discussions with peers to share insights, perspectives, and experiences on strategic planning.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Form a small group of peers with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Identify and discuss current events or business cases related to strategic planning.
Share and analyze different approaches, perspectives, and experiences in strategic planning.
Brainstorm and collaborate on innovative ideas or solutions for strategic challenges.

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Practice Case Studies

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Analyze real-life scenarios to strengthen understanding of strategic planning principles and techniques.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Identify a relevant case study from industry publications or online sources.
Summarize the key business problem and strategic goals outlined in the case.
Analyze the strategies and tactics implemented by the company in response to the business problem.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and tactics, identifying both successes and areas for improvement.
Develop your own alternative strategies and tactics that you believe could have been more effective.

Compile a Strategic Planning Resource Collection

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Gather and organize valuable resources, such as articles, case studies, and tools, on strategic planning.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Identify and gather relevant resources from various sources, such as academic journals, industry reports, and online databases.
Organize the resources into categories or themes, such as strategy development, implementation, and evaluation.
Create a digital or physical collection of the resources for easy access and reference.
Share the collection with peers or colleagues to contribute to their professional development.

Develop Strategic Plan Proposal

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Apply the principles of strategic planning to create a comprehensive proposal for a real-world organization.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Research and identify a specific organization facing a strategic challenge.
Conduct a thorough analysis of the organization's internal and external environment.
Develop a strategic plan that outlines a clear vision, mission, goals, and strategies.
Write a compelling proposal that effectively communicates the strategic plan to stakeholders.
Consider presenting your proposal to the organization for feedback and potential implementation.

Contribute to a Strategic Planning Open Source Project

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Gain practical experience in strategic planning by contributing to a real-world open source project.

Browse courses on Strategic Planning

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Identify an open source project related to strategic planning, such as project management tools or strategic modeling frameworks.
Join the project community and explore the existing codebase.
Identify an area of contribution, such as adding a new feature or improving documentation.
Develop and submit a pull request with your contribution.
Collaborate with other contributors to refine and improve your contribution.

Career center

Learners who complete Why Smart Executives Fail: Common Mistakes & Warning Signs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Consultant

A Business Consultant helps businesses implement improvements to become more efficient and successful. This course can help you become a better Business Consultant because it teaches you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to business failure. You will learn how to manage change and take advantage of opportunities to improve your clients' businesses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant

Investment Banker

An Investment Banker helps companies raise money and provides financial advice. This course can help you become a more successful Investment Banker by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to financial losses. You will learn how to evaluate companies and make sound investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Corporate Strategy Consultant

A Corporate Strategy Consultant helps companies develop and implement long-term strategies. This course can help you become a better Corporate Strategy Consultant by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to strategic failure. You will learn how to analyze companies, develop strategies, and manage change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Strategy Consultant

Management Consultant

A Management Consultant helps organizations improve their performance. This course can help you become a better Management Consultant by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to organizational failure. You will learn how to diagnose problems, develop solutions, and manage change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the development and launch of new products. This course can help you become a better Product Manager by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to product failure. You will learn how to conduct market research, develop product specifications, and manage product development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Entrepreneur

An Entrepreneur starts and runs their own business. This course can help you become a more successful Entrepreneur by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to business failure. You will learn how to develop a business plan, raise money, and manage a team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. This course can help you become a better Marketing Manager by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to marketing failure. You will learn how to conduct market research, develop marketing strategies, and manage marketing budgets.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

A Sales Manager is responsible for leading and motivating a sales team. This course can help you become a better Sales Manager by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to sales failure. You will learn how to develop sales strategies, manage sales teams, and close deals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst evaluates the financial performance of companies and makes investment recommendations. This course can help you become a better Financial Analyst by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to financial losses. You will learn how to analyze financial statements and make sound investment decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business. This course can help you become a better Operations Manager by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to operational failure. You will learn how to manage production, inventory, and logistics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Human Resources Manager

A Human Resources Manager is responsible for the management of employees. This course can help you become a better Human Resources Manager by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to legal problems and employee dissatisfaction. You will learn how to recruit, hire, and train employees, and how to manage employee relations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for the planning and execution of projects. This course can help you become a better Project Manager by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to project failure. You will learn how to develop project plans, manage project teams, and track project progress.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. This course can help you become a better Business Analyst by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to inaccurate analysis and poor decision-making. You will learn how to gather data, conduct research, and develop recommendations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data. This course can help you become a better Data Analyst by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to inaccurate analysis and poor decision-making. You will learn how to use data analysis tools and techniques to extract insights from data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. This course may be useful to you as a Software Engineer by teaching you how to identify and avoid mistakes that can lead to software defects and security vulnerabilities. You will learn how to write clean and efficient code, and how to test and debug software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Why Smart Executives Fail: Common Mistakes & Warning Signs.

The Innovator's Dilemma, with a New Foreword

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Explores the reasons why large, successful companies often fail to innovate and adapt to new technologies. It provides insights into the challenges faced by executives in making decisions about innovation and provides a framework for understanding the innovation process.

The Innovator's Dilemma, with a New Foreword: When...

Why Smart Executives Fail

Common Mistakes & Warning Signs

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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