Faculty Directory Index   |  Darden Home  

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will explore the intersections between Leadership, Enterprise Culture and Innovation. Segments from over 300 hours of video interviews with more than 100 business executives and investors will be used to drive classroom discussions.  The course centers on eight companies, and eight leaders; but also includes the perspectives of fifty CEOs and a number of highly respected equity investors.  Not all students will react in the same way to each leader: this has been the experience over the last three years during which this course material has been presented. But, it is hoped that for all students certain role models will emerge, and that class discussions will incite fresh thinking on issues surrounding leadership, enterprise culture and innovation.

All of the eight leaders selected for the course led companies headquartered on the West Coast of the United States.  The companies were all leaders in their fields: Genentech, Nordstrom, Willamette Industries, Pacific Telesis and Air Touch.  Two of the companies were ‘created’ as a result of Leveraged Buyouts: The Wine Group and Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream.  One of the companies was the first to create a commercial Internet site supported by advertising: Wired Ventures. Another was the first to develop technology for a Wide Area Wireless Public Data Network: Metricom.  One of the leaders was forced out of his company by his Board of Directors.  Another leader was forced to sell-out in order to save his company.   All of the companies were considered highly ‘innovative’ in their respective industries.  Students will see the leaders of these companies in the context of the challenges, successes and failures they faced and experienced.

It is very important that students come to class having read the Case Studies.  Case Studies will be handed out in class during the week.  Class discussion will be a critical part of the learning process, and a reading of the Case Studies will better prepared students for active Class preparation. Class attendance is also essential for both the learning process in this course, and for achieving a satisfactory grade.

Grading for Course

Grades for this course will be based on the following:

        • Class Discussion:  40%
        • Mid-Course Paper:   20%
        • Final Paper:        40%

A Mid-Course Paper will be due on Wednesday morning, January 9th.  The assignment for the Mid-Course Paper is: Compare the Leadership of Louis Rossetto, Robert Dilworth and Robert Swanson. This paper should be no more than four pages, double-spaced.

The Final Paper assignment will be discussed during the first class session.

Last updated: 02/26/14