Leading a Technology-Driven Organization
Guide your tech-driven organization through uncertainty toward profitability
Tech-driven organizations—those for which technology is a fundamental part of their operation—are known for their ability to move quickly and innovate. Unlike other sectors, those who lead tech-driven organizations also face unique challenges, from the characteristics of their workforce and culture to the uncertainty created by the technology itself, which they don’t typically own or have the ability to contain internally. As such, effectively leading a tech-driven organization requires an external focus in terms of how employees and teams operate.
As participant in this program, you’ll explore an outside-in approach to leadership that is particular to tech-driven companies, which encourages organizational leaders to think like a customer to meet the demands of the marketplace. Guided by a prestigious team of Wharton faculty and industry experts, you’ll learn to lead your tech-driven company through disruption, build an organizational culture capable of attracting and retaining top talent and find new opportunities through innovation.
Discover the essentials that a leader must bring to the table in a technology-driven organization across functions—and learn how to become that leader.
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Key Takeaways
Identify the successful characteristics of leaders in a technology-driven organization
Learn to innovate strategically to find attractive opportunities and achieve organic growth
Drive your organization toward profitability by countering technological challenges and uncertainty with vigilance
Guide your organization through unavoidable technology disruptions and transformative advances
Learn how to assess the financial implications of adopting and implementing new technology
Create an effective organizational culture and hiring practices to attract and retain top talent
Lead your technology-driven organization as a team player
Who Is This Program For?
The program is designed for leaders in technology-driven organizations who are looking to create new opportunities and shape the future of their organizations and industries. It is ideal for:
C-suite/senior leaders
who are new to the leadership role and seeking vigilant strategies to steer through turbulent times and towards growth, with people always at the center
Mid- to senior-level functional managers
from any department looking to explore the 360° of leadership beyond their current functional expertise and develop the confidence to demonstrate their skills to lead
Management consultants
in technology and IT who are aiming to provide their clients with tested frameworks of strategy formulation and leadership skills
Program Modules
Analyze various leadership capabilities and how they help guide a tech-driven organization and its employees, including how technology leaders think strategically, choose decisively, and communicate persuasively.
Build a leadership checklist to identify mission-critical principles for tech leaders
Explore IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat, imagining yourself as IBM’s CEO and demonstrating how you would lead the integration
Analyze the attributes that are necessary to think strategically as a leader in a technology-driven organization.
Evaluate unmet needs within your tech organization and identify fulfillment strategies to discover new opportunities
Identify the effective elements that made Steinway and Sons’ strategy successful and what strategic ideas you could glean for your tech-driven organization
Explore examples of vigilant and vulnerable organizations and strategies that you can use to prepare your tech-driven organization for unexpected challenges and opportunities via this interview with guest speaker Professor Paul Schoemaker.
Reflect on a surprise experienced by your organization, subsequent resulting changes, and whether your organization could have prepared for it in hindsight
Consider the scenario planning process, how it can benefit your organization, and how to prepare for a scenario planning workshop
Evaluate financial resources to assess a tech-driven organization’s value and performance and understand the resource prioritization and financial implications of adopting and implementing new technology.
Analyze the value of an organization based on profit, reinvestments, rate of return, and cost of capital
Discuss how an organization must show a positive Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) on technology acquisition as well as its long-term sustainability
Examine four key drivers that promote innovation within organizational leadership in this guest speaker interview with Professor George Day, and learn how you can enhance the innovation narrative to accelerate your tech-driven organization’s growth potential.
Examine the benefits of collective curiosity within an organization
Describe how innovation aligns with incentives and rewards in an organization
Examine the unique characteristics of tech workers and leadership approaches to building a workplace culture that supports innovation and teamwork in a technology-driven organization.
Describe how to create a culture that supports innovation within a technology-driven organization and how to track the progress of that innovation
Discuss the best practices that you believe will benefit you most in leading science and tech workers
Program Experience
Led by Wharton Experts
Program Workbook
Case Studies and Leadership Examples
Live Office Hours
Live Session with Faculty
Interactive Survey
Industry Examples
This online program features real-world case studies and leadership examples to help you understand the essentials of leading a tech-driven organization.
Amazon
Understand Amazon’s “Working Backwards” process of creating a future press release at the beginning of the conceptual process that announces a new innovation as though it were ready to be launched.
Steinway & Sons
Examine the successful market strategy of Steinway & Sons, which has resulted in 98 percent of concert pianists worldwide using Steinways.
Phillips and LED Lights
Recognize how vigilant leaders are attuned and open to new technologies, even if only a small minority of individuals see the possibilities and make adjustments in the marketplace.
DuPont
See how leaders (such as DuPont’s CEO) maintain vigilance by paying attention to anomalies and developing a portfolio of strategic options that allow them to win even amid crisis and uncertainty.
Henkel
Examine how Henkel attempted to use technology to change and reformulate the supply chain.
Merck
Explore Merck’s pioneering efforts in pharmaceutical industry.
ING
Analyze ING’s implementation of the agile project management approach.
Program Workbook
Use your program workbook to complete leadership activities within each module and reflect on your past, present, and future experiences. Sample activities include:
Share leadership experiences and positive/negative influence that leaders have on an organization
Answer questions from employees as a CEO
Share examples of successfully and unsuccessfully implemented strategies
Discuss problem-solving strategies that require significant risk or investment
Refer to Warren Buffett’s “toll bridge” analogy to assess the unmet needs of an organization that provide a strategic opportunity
Evaluate your organization's talent investment
Evaluate how organizations respond to failure (well-intentioned disappointments)
Faculty
Geoffrey T. Boisi Professor Emeritus
Emeritus Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was previously the executive director of the Marketing Science Institute and the founder and co-...
William and Jacalyn Egan Professor of Management; Professor of Management; Director, Center for Leadership and Change Management; Editor, Wharton Leadership Digest
Michael Useem is faculty director of the Leadership Center and McNulty Leadership Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of several ...
Clinical Professor, Stern School of Management
Sonia Marciano has been a clinical professor at the Stern School of Management since July 2007. She is currently the Stern academic director for TRIUM, a joint executive MBA p...
Author, Educator, Researcher and Entrepreneur
Paul Schoemaker, PhD, is an author, educator, researcher, and entrepreneur in strategic management, decision making, innovation, and leadership. He was among the first to comb...
Adjunct Professor of Finance; Director of Executive Education
David Wessels is an adjunct professor of finance and a director of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as the academic direc...
George W. Taylor Professor of Management; Director of Wharton’s Center for Human Resources
Peter Cappelli is the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at the Wharton School, the director of Wharton’s Center for Human Resources, and a research associate at the Nat...
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Wharton School.
Note: After successful completion of the online program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wharton School. This online certificate program does not grant academic credit or a degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
FAQs
How do I know if this program is right for me?
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
What is the typical class profile?
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
What other dates will this program be offered in the future?
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
How much time is required each week?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
Completing your final project, if required
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
How do I interact with other program participants?
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Do I need to be online to access the program content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.
What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
How can I obtain a W9 form?
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Wharton Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.
What is the program refund and deferral policy?
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 680 205 5118 (US) / +44 185 845 9995 (UK) / +65 3135 1422 (SG)
Flexible payment options available.
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