This ten-month program is oriented toward learning a series of connected business elements that keep companies lean, agile, competitive, and responsive. There is one monthly 4-hour formal live meeting on a given Saturday. Each month also has one off-site live group webinar. Plentiful optional individual and group sessions and tutoring are also available.
The Business Strategy is based on the Four Threads methodology that focuses on knitting all of an organization’s functions together. The Four Threads are Customer Focus, Operational Speed, Financial Discipline, and Leadership Practice. Click here for an overview of these ideas.
The Educational Practice is based on adult learning methods. Adult learners require more practical applications rather than theoretic ones. Adult motivations are more independent and well developed, and a wide range of techniques are required. We use the following:
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Blended courses |
Approximately 1/3 of the time is spent in formal classroom. One Saturday per month. 1/3 is made up of online activities, including teaming exercises related to the core content. 1/3 focuses on independent study. |
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Independent study |
Students have the option to choose 2 to 3 extra external courses offered by universities and other educational vehicles. These are self-selected and self-paced, and are funded by the school. A collection of these is shown in the Independent Study tab. (available 12-1-2011) |
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Self-directed |
The student group choose monthly from a group of 20 additional topics to make up a portion of the curriculum. This may also include student experiences they wish to present. (available 12-1-2011) |
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Experiential learning |
Fourfold creates small group projects with sponsor companies. Students have the opportunity to actually cause some positive change within a company. We also are willing to do the same for student’s current employers, if they elect and receive management approval. We encourage students to define topics or their experiences for the group. |
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Teaming |
Collaboration is an increasingly important skill. The experiential learning and case studies are on a team basis. We encourage team study and the school’s electronic architecture is designed to support this. |
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LMS – Learning Management System |
Fourfold Graduate School is enrolled in and building a LMS system with Moodle, the largest open-source system in the world. This provides the electronic “bricks and mortar” and administration for the school. More can be found at www.moodle.org |
Curriculum - Course Overview
This nine-month program is oriented toward a series of connected business elements that together keep companies lean, agile, competitive, and responsive. There will be one monthly formal live meeting on Saturdays for 4 hours. During each month there will be two off-site Webinars.
| Session | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Session 1 ... March |
Program Introduction Competitive Strategy |
| Session 2 ... April |
Competitive Strategy – Cash Approach |
| Session 3 ... May |
Market / Customer Focus |
| Session 4 ... June |
Velocity / Operational speed Marry Marketing and operations |
| Session 5 ... July |
Financial performance Marry Marketing, operations and Finance |
| Session 6 ... August |
Change Process Management |
| Session 7 ... September |
Leadership |
| Session 8 ... October |
Detailed review and wind-up of company projects What do you want to do next? |
| Session 9 ... November |
Your plan Graduation |
