Breadth, depth… and value creation

The Asian International Executive Programme provides a broad analytical background to complement the already considerable skills and experience of the participants. And the specifically Asian case studies give these general principles of outstanding practice a unique context.

INSEAD uses all the breadth and depth of the programme to give you the key to business and career growth: value creation. This is the objective of all organisations, whether publicly traded, family-owned, state-run or not-for-profit, and it is the central concept that runs through the entire programme – across two intensive weeks and five key areas of business.

Finance and management accounting

Finance and management accounting systems are the ultimate decision-making tools. We enhance your financial management skills by getting to grips with working-capital management, including the cost of capital and capital expenditure calculations. We also teach you to master different approaches to valuing companies, projects and businesses. Above all, we set the universal principles of finance and accounting in an Asian context that is relevant to your business.

Marketing

Rigorous concepts and systematic tools help you understand and reach your customer anywhere in the world. We give you the strategic and tactical fundamentals: market orientation, market creation, targeting and marketing strategies, to name just a few. By focusing on managing the relationship with your customer, we help you to achieve marketing excellence, regardless of your background. All this, with a special emphasis on issues that particularly concern Asia, such as brand building and extension across the world’s biggest and fastest growing continent.

Operations management

Without operational excellence there is no competitive advantage. And we give you the insights to extend best practice across the entire supply chain. We help you to address basic yet vitally important issues, such as using services to enhance competitive advantage, even in commodity industries. We also provide a powerful overview of the changing structure of the global supply chain – and the continent’s central role in this transformation. In particular, we focus on value creation through high-end research and development and manufacturing in Asia.

Human resources and people management

As a senior manager you have the chance to make an impact on patterns of behaviour across your organisation.

We give you the frameworks to understand – and make an impact on – the way people, teams and organisations as a whole function. In addition, we give you the insights needed to lead people through both good and difficult times. The issues surrounding people management are universal, but we help you to address challenges most relevant to Asia, such as attracting, motivating, enhancing and retaining talent.

Asian political and economic analysis

Your organisation is shaped by economic and political forces, which – as a senior executive – it is essential to understand. Prepare your business to minimise the threats, while exploiting the opportunities. In particular, discover how to understand business cycles, inflation, and interest and exchange rates. Above all, use INSEAD’s academic expertise to analyse the implications of the rise of China and India for the economic and political order in Asia and thus, for your own business. Finally, explore the roles that different countries will play in Asia’s reshaped business, political and economic landscape.

Having acquired or refreshed your knowledge of general business principles, we help you to weave your past experience and new-found insights into a comprehensive overview of your business. Together we explore global best practices and define a competitive arena that is relevant to your own business. We also discuss how diversification, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances all present particular challenges in the region.

Finally, we address strategy at the broadest level. It is time to leave the programme with some non-traditional approaches to strategy that could just give your business the competitive edge you have been looking for.

Please note that the programme content may change slightly from one session to another.

Why should I choose INSEAD above other business schools?

We think our diversity is our distinguishing feature. INSEAD is probably the only school where you’ll often find up to 20 different nationalities in the same class. And it’s certainly the only school where no single one of those 20 nationalities will predominate. Having said that, our faculty are among the best (and most diverse) in the world too.

Why is diversity such a big deal?

The obvious answer is that business is more international than ever before. But it’s the subtle answer that’s much more powerful. With so many different national and cultural perspectives to learn from, you really will start to see things differently. By challenging your old assumptions, you’ll become aware of new possibilities and start to understand how very different people think.

Is this programme only for executives working in Asia?

No. Those based in Asia will find the programme extremely valuable, but they’re not the only ones. For example, executives from outside the region who want to develop their general management skills and strategic thinking will benefit greatly from the experience, especially if they have an interest or responsibility in Asia. Companies looking to expand into Asia or individuals about to relocate to the region will also gain great value from the programme. It’s designed to help individuals and companies face the specific challenges of general management, with an emphasis on Asian case studies.

How do I know that this General Management Programme is right for me?

If you’d like to compare the Asian International Executive Programme with our other general management options, go to http://executive.education.insead.edu/asian_international_executive/program_comparison.cfm to take a look at our easy-to-use table. We also strongly encourage you to get in touch with our expert advisor to discuss the various options in relation to your specific needs and abilities.

Do I have to attend the sessions on my own area of expertise?

Absolutely. First, you will almost certainly gain a new perspective on your field. Our faculty integrate the very latest developments in management thinking into their teaching – and give all this in the Asian context that our participants are seeking. Second, you’ll have the valuable experience of passing on your expertise to classmates from other disciplines. In other sessions, they’ll return the favour by sharing their insights and expertise with you.