To deliver Impact Through Education®, we have extended the services we offer well beyond the traditional one- or two-week classroom experience. This includes new needs assessment techniques that help target the right program design, technology platforms to engage participants and their managers back in the work environment, brainstorming sessions to discuss barriers to implementation, and voluntary coaching programs.
These activities are built around a classroom experience that executives tell us is first-in-class. Leveraging the world's largest and most-cited faculty, you will enter an extraordinary learning environment with a cohort of senior executives — that will extend well beyond your time in the classroom.
The Wharton Learning Continuum is best understood in the framework of a custom educational solution, but you will see elements of it in our open-enrollment programs as well.
Observable Outcomes Definition and Tracking Observable outcomes are your goals — what you plan to accomplish when you return to work. Outcomes can be skills you would like to acquire or improve or behaviors you would like to change. What is critical is that they are simply stated and observable in common sense terms. You will determine three to five key observable outcomes during the program — recognizing that these outcomes may change over time. We will facilitate the tracking of results after the program through regular contact, including online reminders and/or our Virtual Classroom.
Manager's Briefings Your manager's support will make it easier to implement what you learn at a Wharton Executive Education program, so our manager's briefings are intended to maximize results by facilitating managerial involvement. The goal is to communicate to your manager what you will encounter during the program, what impact to expect (or to look for), and what barriers you may face in completing the tasks you have set for yourself. If you and your manager agree to participate, the briefings can be delivered in a variety of forms, from e-mails before or after the in-class sessions, to more detailed reports, to sessions in the Virtual Classroom.
Reconvening the Cohort The shared learning and bond created with fellow executives is an important benefit of participating in our programs. When cohorts reconvene at periodic intervals (typically every two to three months), participants will discuss progress against goals, as well as coach each other to overcome challenges and barriers to implementation. The Virtual Classroom and Wharton staff will facilitate these post-program sessions. We even offer online office hours with program faculty so that you can address individual questions.
Impact Reports Impact reports summarize the group's successes and challenges/barriers in achieving observable outcomes. They are created after a cohort reconvenes or can be created based on the group's reported results. Impact reports can be shared with participants, managers, or both and can be helpful in building support for implementing your goals.
Individual Coaching In certain situations, a business coach can help extend your learning into the workplace and assist in improving your effectiveness as a manager. On a case-by-case basis, we bring together business coaches and executive participants to design followup activities that reinforce our programs and the objectives you set for yourself upon your return to your job.
That's it — the Wharton Learning Continuum. Simple, practical, and focused on impact.