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    This course is part of the Leadership & Management track.
    Introduction to Management Essentials

    LIMITED TIME ONLY

    Extra learning at no extra cost. Enroll now and unlock a GenAI Bonus Bundle featuring complimentary lessons on AI fundamentals. Download our guide to learn more about this limited-time offer.
     

    Management Essentials

    $1,850
    Next 8-week session starts Oct 1st
    Enroll Now
    Master four vital managerial processes: decision-making, implementation, organizational learning, and change management.
    8
    weeks
    4-7
    hours per week
    4
    modules
    Self-Paced

     This course earns you a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online. What you earn.

    Overview
    Syllabus
    Enrollment
    Stories
    FAQs
    Enroll Now

    Key Concepts

    Design, direct, and shape organizational processes to your advantage
    Influence the context and environment in which decisions get made
    Implement strategies, plans, and projects on time, on budget, and at the highest quality
    Spearhead learning initiatives that enable your organization to improve and innovate
    Manage and lead change in organizations of varying sizes

    Who Will Benefit

    Whether you’re managing people, products, or projects, gain the skills you need to succeed from day one.
    Being able to break down real-life scenarios, and look at the management processes within each—what worked and what didn't—provided a unique method of learning, and incomparable to other course offerings available.
    Monica Higgins
    Account Director at Hollywood Agency
    Elevate your management skills by applying insights from Harvard Business School faculty and expert practitioners.
    I thought I knew the subject relatively well and it would be a refresher. I was in for a surprise. After the first module, I realized that I did many things wrong. The most chilling thought was about missed opportunities. The course is giving me a good structure to understand organizational behavior.
    Alex Glavkov
    Technical Program Manager at Amazon Robotics
    Start preparing for a future managerial role through access to best-in-class tools and frameworks.
    Meet Raymond, a Management Essentials participant who took the course in order to be more effective in his new role as Manager of Diversity Pipeline Programs for Boston Public Schools.
    Raymond Porch
    Manager of Diversity Pipeline Programs, Boston Public Schools

    What You Earn

    Certificate of Completion

    Certificate of Completion

    Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online

    Earn by: completing this course

    Certificate of Specialization

    Certificate of Specialization

    Prove your mastery of leadership and management

    Earn by: completing any three courses within this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization

    Learn More about what you earn

    Syllabus

    4 Modules, 35-45 Hours
    Download full syllabus
    10-12
    hrs
    Module 1

    A Process Perspective on Management

    Differentiate between the myths and realities of management, and learn how to adopt and leverage processes to your advantage.

    Highlights

    Managing vs. Leading
    Columbia Space Mission Case
    Process: The DNA of Management
    ShowHide Details

    Case Studies

    1. Mount Everest - 1996
    2. Columbia’s Final Mission
    3. Leading Change at Fuerte Construction

    Featured Exercises

    • Small group process analysis
    • Peer feedback exercise
    10-12
    hrs
    Module 2

    Shaping the Decision-Making Process

    Analyze the decision-making process and evaluate potential drivers and pitfalls. Utilize a range of managerial levers to improve individual and group decision-making.

    Highlights

    Evaluate the Process, Not the Outcome
    The Bay of Pigs Case
    Talk of the Town Case
    Three C's of Effective Decision Making
    ShowHide Details

    Case Studies

    1. The Bay of Pigs
    2. Trouble at Talk of the Town Designs
    3. The Cuban Missile Crisis

    Featured Exercises

    • Small group decision-making simulation
    • 1-on-1 decision-making simulation
    • Peer feedback exercise
    10-12
    hrs
    Module 3

    Implementing for the Present and Learning for the Future

    Detect and diagnose common causes of poor implementation, and recognize the role learning plays in organizational performance, improvement, and innovation.

    Highlights

    Healthcare.gov Case
    ShowHide Details

    Case Studies

    1. Healthcare.gov: The Crash and the Fix
    2. The 2010 Chilean Mining Rescue
    3. The U.S. Army’s AfterAction Reviews

    Featured Exercises

    • Giving feedback exercise
    • Giving and receiving advice exercise
    • Delegation exercise
    • Conduct your own review
    • Peer feedback exercise
    10-12
    hrs
    Module 4

    Managing and Leading Change

    Understand the stages and drivers of effective organizational change, and learn how to lead change in large organizations.

    Highlights

    The Stages of Change
    Adopting a Disciplined Mindset
    Making the Transition from Entrepreneurial to Professional Management
    ShowHide Details

    Case Studies

    1. Scaling Up N12 Technologies
    2. Growing Pains at Stroz Friedberg
    3. Paul Levy: Turning Around the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)

    Featured Exercises

    • Capstone assignment: small group consulting simulation
    • Peer feedback exercise
    Free E-Book

    How to Become a More Effective Leader

    Learn about the difference between leadership and management, uncover the qualities and skills that characterize an effective leader, gain an understanding of common leadership styles, and explore how you can unleash the potential in yourself and others.
    Access Your Free E-Book

    Upskill Your Team, Transform Your Organization

    Whether you represent a large multinational corporation or a small local business, we have a solution for your learning and development needs.
    Learn More

    Our Difference

    Management Essentials provides participants with key tools and techniques to become more effective managers and get things done
    Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes and applying your knowledge through peer feedback, decision-making simulations, and a capstone assignment.
    Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes and applying your knowledge through peer feedback, decision-making simulations, and a capstone assignment.
    Description of silent animated video above: Learner completes an interactive question by dragging and dropping choices into two different categories
    Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after your course. Learners who successfully complete an HBS Online program will be added to the HBS Online Community's Official Networking Group and gain exclusive access to events and other networking opportunities.
    Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after your course. Learners who successfully complete an HBS Online program will be added to the HBS Online Community's Official Networking Group and gain exclusive access to events and other networking opportunities.
    Description of silent animated video above: Learner types an answer in the discussion board in response to a peer's question
    Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like Amgen Pharmaceuticals, Uber, and United States Digital Service.
    Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like Amgen Pharmaceuticals, Uber, and United States Digital Service.
    Description of silent animated video above: Learner scrolls through video interviews from prominent business leaders

    About the Professors

    Joseph Fuller
    Management Essentials

    Professor of Management Practice
    "Organizations are complex bodies. And it's your job to navigate all the complexity, to help your people get the work done."

    David Garvin
    Management Essentials

    Roland Christensen Professor of Business Administration
    "In this course, you learn the essential skills and techniques to become a more effective manager."

    Dates & Eligibility

    No current course offerings for this selection.

    Starting
    Oct
    01
    8 Weeks  $1,850 + applicable international taxes
    Payment deadline September 25
    View weekly calendar
    Enroll Now
    • No documentation required

    All learners must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course.

    Learn about bringing this course to your organization.

    Learner Stories

    87%
    acquired new skills that were immediately applicable
    This program debunked many myths about management. I highly recommend anyone with or without managerial experience take this course. It is much more than just about managing the people.
    Samir Ghosalkar
    Chemical Engineer at Norbrook Laboratories
    Professor David Garvin is so sentient and poignant in his discussions of process and decision-making. The case studies of significant historical events are like looking back through a time machine. People lost their lives because of faulty processes. I know this is a dubious feeling, but I can't get the thought out of my head that with more and more case studies, you could swell your brain with a better recipe for living as well as running a company. So if you are on the fence about taking this course, get off on the correct side. Take the course so we can talk about it.
    Richard Pitts
    Read more learner stories
    * Source: 2022 surveys and course data
     
    All FAQs

    Management Essentials FAQs

    What are the learning requirements in order to successfully complete the course, and how are grades assigned?

    +–

    Participants in Management Essentials are eligible for a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Business School Online.

    Participants are expected to fully complete all coursework in a timely manner. This will mean meeting each week’s course module deadlines and fully answering questions. This helps ensure your group proceeds through the course at a similar pace and can take full advantage of social learning opportunities. In addition to module and assignment completion, we expect participation in the social learning elements of the course by offering feedback on others’ reflections and contributing to conversations on the platform. Participants who fail to complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course.

    More detailed information on course requirements will be communicated at the start of the course. No grades are assigned for Management Essentials. Participants will either be evaluated as complete or not complete.

    What materials will I have access to after completing Management Essentials?

    +–

    You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final deadline in the program.

    At the end of the program, you will receive a PDF summary highlighting the key concepts introduced in the course.

    How should I list my certificate on my resume?

    +–

    Harvard Business School Online
    Certificate in Management Essentials
    [Cohort Start Month and Year]

    List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" with the language from the Credential Verification page:

    School: Harvard Business School Online
    Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program]
    Degree: Other; Certificate in Management Essentials
    Field of Study: Leave blank
    Grade: "Complete"
    Activities and Societies: Leave blank
    Description:
    Management Essentials is an 8-week, 35-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. Management Essentials takes a distinctive, hands-on approach to management. Participants in this course learn to identify, understand, design, and shape critical organizational and managerial processes as a means of getting the work done.

    The course focuses on four of the most essential processes for managers: decision-making, implementation, learning, and change. Participants work through real-world challenges faced by managers across a variety of industries, and come away with tangible tools and techniques that they can readily apply in their organizations to create higher quality, more efficient work.

     

    Related Programs

    7 Courses

    Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)

    CLIMB enables new and experienced leaders to ignite their careers with a combination of vital and forward-looking business skills, self-reflection, and an immersive cohort-based learning experience with a diverse global network.

    1 year, 5-9 hrs/week
    Apply by September 10th, Enroll by September 13
    $15,000 (four installments of $3,750)Credential 

    Leadership Principles

    Professors Joshua Margolis & Anthony Mayo

    Learn to bring out the best in others by applying and adapting your leadership style and managing the conditions that drive team performance.

    6 weeks, 7-9 hrs/week
    Pay by July 7
    $1,850Certificate 

    Organizational Leadership

    Professors Joshua Margolis & Anthony Mayo

    Elevate your leadership skills to drive organizational success and effectively implement transformative change.

    7 weeks, 6-8 hrs/week
    Pay by May 22
    $1,850Certificate 

    Negotiation Mastery

    Professor Michael Wheeler

    Master negotiation techniques to secure maximum value for yourself and your organization.

    8 weeks, 4-5 hrs/week
    Pay by June 12
    $1,850Certificate 
     
    All FAQs

    Top FAQs

    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

    +–

    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

    +–

    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

    +–

    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

    +–

    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

    +–

    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

    +–

    We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

    We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

    +–

    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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