• What It Looks Like
  • Program Constructs / Focus Graphic
  • Program Description / Rationale
  • Unique Features
  • Program Prospectus
    (.pdf download)

• How It Works
  • Phases / Elements
  • Methodologies
    • Workshops Integration
    • Action Learning
      • Definition
      • Projects Design / Focus
  • Landscape Graphic

• Why Do It
  • Promo Briefs
    • Silo Thinking
    • The Training Reflex
    • A Quick Fix
    • Strategy Questions
  • Article Excerpts
  • Continuing Study Books

• What It Achieves
  • Participant Outcomes
  • Program Evaluation

• Who Delivers It
  • Instructor Credentials
  • Contact Us
  • Brown Bag Lunch

Concept/Context Workshops Integration

In order to maximize the coherence and cohesion of The Business System Lab learning experience, several integrative approaches have been incorporated into the design and delivery of the series of four concept/context workshops.

Content and delivery have been collaboratively developed and continuously improved by the program instructors.
Each instructor is thoroughly familiar with the other's orientation to their respective topic focus, content elements and presentation flow. And, instructors attend each other's presentations of BSL workshop sessions, in order to provide complementary points from their own topic areas when appropriate to the discussions, and to learn about specific company issues arising in one session that may inform carry-over discussion points in succeeding sessions. This also provides participants continuous personal contact with both instructors.

Common models are used by both instructors to frame principles and illustrate particular topic perspectives.
Example models are applied references to The Discipline of Market Leaders, The Balanced Scorecard, Cash: The Lifeblood of Business, The Force of Culture, etc.

Common themes are presented and reinforced throughout all workshop sessions.
Example themes are "continuous functional interdependency," "business as a complex adaptive system," "the multiple dimensions of an organization [economic, technical, social]," "alignment around shared purpose [vision, mission, values]," etc.

A mini case, created by the program instructors, provides breakout teams with a series of interrelated, focused group study experiences.
An instantly understandable product offering proposition is introduced in a planning exercise in the Marketing Workshop; decisions reached are then used in a product design exercise in the Operations Workshop; the developing data in its advancing form is then used to illustrate managerial finance decision options in the Finance Workshop; and then the full functional plan is retrospectively referenced in the organizational framework presented during the Purpose and Culture Workshop.