Working across platforms

Black Enterprise, Sept, 2008

SOON AFTER LANDING HIS NEW ROLE AS PART OF THE DELL EXECUTIVE team, B.B. Craig recognized a need for a broader set of management skills.

"While business specialization is valuable, cross-functional and cross-organizational responsibilities require greater collective knowledge and breadth of operational understanding," explains Craig, senior manager of public sales operations for the Texas-based computer titan.

So, in June 2007, Craig enrolled in Harvard Business School's Executive Education General Management Program, which consists of both on- and off-campus sessions and a case-based curriculum with emphasis on personalized learning and practical knowledge. Participants can enhance their studies with the program's proprietary Website, Transition to General Manager, a knowledge-sharing portal.

CRAIG'S NEWFOUND SKILLS HAVE PROVIDED SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL BENEFITS:

Seeing the big picture. Craig looks at departmental business challenges with a company-wide view, making decisions with the entire organization in mind. He evaluates each project not within the confines of a silo, but within the context of the overall mission and goals of the company.

Getting to the heart of the issue. Craig is better able to identify complex business problems that affect divisions across the company and then design multidimensional solutions that are specific to departments but beneficial to the overall health of the company.

Exercising inclusion. Craig's comprehension of the extensive network of departments and teams allows him to leverage the company's diverse workforce and talent pool.

For more information about the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, log on to www.exed.hbs.edu.