Good Essay About Developing Executive Education Program At Emerson College

Introduction and a brief history

Executive education connotes to academic courses and programs offered in universities and colleges to professionals. The mentioned program mainly target professionals working in executive roles, managerial roles, and those who aspire to be managers. A higher percentage of executive education is offered at the university-based business schools (Vicere & Freeman, 1990). Most of the executive education programs lead to certificates therefore being non-credit and non-degree granting.
In the past, executive education programs were run more like trade schools rather than academic programs. The education program merely began in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The programs were taught by business practitioners, where students and business practitioners shared what they had learned while undertaking their job. The history executive education can be traced back to Harvard Business School that offered a course on Second World War production (Friga et al., 2003). The main objective of the course was train older managers to acquire skills knowledge that would assist them in transiting from civilian role war production roles. The acquired skills could help the old managers to deal with their enemies at war. The course was offered for a period of 15 weeks. By the year 1945, university providers began to offer more specialized courses in executive education as a prolongation of World War II courses (Vicere, 1996). The most beneficial feature of the mentioned program was the benefit of learning in academic-oriented campus that is free from the office environment destructions.

Executive Education is not limited to business schools

It is wise to mention that executive education is not limited to business schools. Executive education is offered in several faculties different from business school in most of the Universities. Just to mention but a few, taking Harvard University as a case study, executive education is offered in the school of Public Health. In the mentioned faculty, the courses offered are meant to educate the current generation on global health matters (Sanghera, 2008). The main aim is to educate those who are ready and willing to take up the leadership position on health sectors to be prepared to handle any health matter brought before them.
Additionally, executive education may also be offered in the school of political science. In the mentioned school, the individuals are taught on leadership skills, and ways of using human, technical and organizational resources to maximize benefits in their organizations (McDade, 1987). In the mentioned school, they undertake programs that provide the conditions and competencies that may boost collaboration and shows them how they can build and sustain the mentioned qualities in their company and people.
Another notable fact is that executive education is also offered in the schools of operation and technology. They are taught on how to establish an IT strategy and how leverage the power of IT initiatives in order to gain competitive advantage. In the mentioned school, manager is taught on how to build good customer relations with their employees, hence maximizing business productivity. From ongoing discussions, it is clearly evident that executive education is not limited to business schools.

Positive Impacts of executive education program

Apart from individual benefits, executive education program has positive impacts on the financial resources of an organization. As a result of open enrollment programs available to participants, more people may end up enrolling in the mentioned programs. More enrollments to the mentioned programs indicate additional revenue the institutions offering the program (Gordon, 2013). Increased enrollment will boost the financial resources of the university offering the program since majority of people taking the programs have financial capability. The mentioned program will as well create more job opportunities to the university and will lead to strong alumni network.
Executive education program will develop positive approaches to leadership and company’s image. The institution will come away with powerful tools to increase employee engagement. The organization’s culture would be transformed; the institution will venture into innovative programs and courses to offer to individuals hence improving the bottom line of the institution (Kets de Vries & Korotov, 2007) As the college offers a variety of programs to individuals, the college brand and image would be greatly enhanced, and the college would be known worldwide as the main provider of the program. The reputation of the school will be enhanced, and more managers would prefer joining the college to partake the mentioned program. Additionally, as a result of enhanced image of the college, sponsors, investors and financiers will be attracted to the college, and that might lead to additional sources of revenue to the college.
A notable point is that adult education program will enhance academic ranking of the college. Ranking may be based on faculty, revenues, teaching and skills. As mentioned earlier, executive education program is majorly meant to improve skills of an individual, and increased enrollment would lead to increased revenue. Therefore, the college will gain top ranking in terms of skills, finances, teaching, and participants. Just to mention, the college will be better off as compared to the ones that do not offer executive education program.

Executive programs offered at Emerson College

There exist quite a number of executive programs offered at Emerson College. Just to mention but a few, the programs include Program communication disorders, Program in global marketing, communication and advertisement, Program in health communication and, Program in Integrated marketing communication (Altmann, 2013). The mentioned programs are of necessity to the students who opt to pursue them; however, the said are not addressing courses from communication management program.
Prevalently, health communication program is a unique program offered at Emerson College that deals majorly with theory and research in the health sector. The mentioned program provides knowledge and skills necessary in planning, delivering and evaluation of health matters. Health communication program has various strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Some of the strength includes; many success stories about clients who have benefited from their program, the program have support and partnership from other non-profit programs offered within the college. Another notable fact is that the health program is recognized as the best non-profit program providers that are to say that they provide measurable, reputable and good work.
Weaknesses of the program include lack of awareness among the populace on the need for the program. Also, there are no new units offered in the program, and therefore it denies those undertaking the program new ideas. Worst to mention is that there are few clients taking the program, and the program is not engaging, that is to say that it is very dull. Another considerable weakness is that the said program does not address the courses of communication program. Students pursuing the said program ought to communicate effectively while handling health related issues. Communication courses are, therefore, imperative for this program.
The opportunities available to the mentioned program are mentionable. The opportunities include; deteriorating health of individuals has raised concern and hence marketing health communication program (Executive Core, n.d.). Secondly, the death rate is high in the US hence raises concern for the need of the program. Additionally, good health is basic to every individual and therefore it raises high concern for the program.
Some of the threats experienced in the mentioned program include existence of large number of non-profit organizations hence they have to compete for money, time and attention. The staff in the college is very small, and hence it limits the number of people taking the program at any given time. The primary target audience might not have access to the program and some the audience have the program elsewhere.
Emerson College also offers an innovative program on Masters of Arts in Global Marketing Communication. The main object of this course is to assist those taking it to develop knowledge and skills in marketing across the world and along all cultural business practices. Some of the notable strengths of the program include universal acceptance of the program. Also, the program itself is admirable and attractive to anyone who wants to partake it. The weaknesses of the program include: the scope of the program is very large and hence people might end up taking longer period than expected, there is a lack of visual accountability in the mentioned program (Korn, 2014). Additionally, there is lack proper campaign to create awareness of the program among individuals. The mentioned program has several opportunities which include: existence of many potential partners, promotion of global partnership, and inspiration hope for the future. Some of the threats experienced in the program include, people have the belief that domestic issues are more relevant than global issues. The discussed program does not addressing courses in the communication management, therefore, limiting the students in this field to excel in field of communication. Also, people are normally pre-occupied by daily life, and they face competition from many course oriented campaigns.
Program in Integrated marketing communication is also offered in Emerson College. The main objective of the program is to impart skills and techniques to those undertaking the program. There are notable strengths of the program in that the program is globally accepted; most people prefer taking the program to improve their leadership skills business management skills (Conger & Xin, 2000). There exist some weaknesses in the program which include: large scope of the program hence time-consuming and lack of proper campaigns and awareness on the existence of the program. The opportunities that exist in the program include existence of many potential partners and universal acceptance of the program. Just to point out, there are some threats facing the program such as diverse competition in the global market and ignorance by people to take the mentioned program. The program also does not cover courses from communication management program.
Communication disorders program is also offered by the college. Additionally, the mentioned program has strengths such as excellent support at all levels in the college. Furthermore, it has open lines of communication among the faculties in the department and variety of clinical sites available students in the college. On the contrary, the program experiences weaknesses such as limited interactions with other departments, increased workload in the program and labor intensive work given to students. Future opportunities include formation of online leveling courses, offering clinical opportunities within the community and increased reputation of the department that provides an opportunity to recruit graduates (Professional Certificate Programs, n.d). Some of the future threats include economic problems affecting clients’ abilities to pay for the services and faculty may be facing shortage of PhDs in the future.

Relation between executive education and civic engagement initiatives

The Elma Lewis Center was founded to undertake activities related to civic engagement, learning and inspiration at Emerson College. The main objective of forming the mentioned center was to uplift communities and strengthening Emerson communication department. Elma Lewis Center coordinates and initiates various programs in the institution. In relation executive education program at Emerson College, there are various purposes of civic engagement initiatives which include: developing the required infrastructure to enhance the growth of civic engagement at Emerson. Another purpose of civic engagement is to bring distinct expertise in the arts and communication to bear in serving the public the public through school and community partnerships (Elkington, & Zeitz, n.d.). The third purpose is to come up with a culture of civic mindedness and civic action at Emerson College. Additionally, another civic engagement goal is to measure the effectiveness of Emerson’s civic action activities and participate in the provision of knowledge regarding the methods that might serve the common good through civic engagement. Another notable fact is to provide a platform for civic discourse on issues of social consequences.
A notable fact is executive education program exposes the learner to leading minds in leadership management, development and strategy management. When executive education program is executed in the right manner, it will assist in achieving civic engagement goals in various ways through delivery of sustainable results driven the greatest capabilities and purpose. Creation of action plans that assist in long-term change and growth in the organization. Good execution of the program will also lead to building of more effective and productive relationships based on intelligent use of emotions. Executive education program will also lead to the development of strategic insights needed by global leaders (Letavec & Bolles, 2010).
Communications plan for the execution of communication management program will include an all inclusive plan. That is to say, that each and every stakeholder in the organization will take part in decision-making that may affect the program. The main type of communication strategy to be adopted will be decentralized communication. This type of communication will aid execution of the program in that even the comments and decision of low-level employees are taken into account. Students will develop speaking, listening, writing and negotiation skills and media expertise required for the success of the program. Stakeholders will select plan and implement it according to the techniques of communication management and principles. The plan will also incorporate current students, college leaders, and alumni. The new plan will provide emphasis on choice and flexibility when focusing on specific areas of communication.

References

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