Most organizations are under enormous pressure to change the way they do business, sometimes radically, while sustaining or improving organizational performance. Today’s global business environment is characterized by upheaval, and is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. 

Several business schools run executive education courses tailored to operations leaders. On these programs, the participants learn everything from agile manufacturing to design thinking, lean methodologies and even storytelling. Many of the courses link operations to strategy, underscoring the cross-disciplinary nature of these subjects. Other courses focus more on how operations relates to supply chain management, which is increasing under the spotlight in the pandemic.

Companies are increasingly demanding leaders who are empathetic and compassionate, who can motivate and engage employees, promote wellbeing and improve productivity. In response to the pressures of remote working and growing calls for greater diversity in the workplace, business schools have created courses focused on “positive leadership”, which focus on the virtues of trust, inclusivity, gratitude, and generosity. Participants learn how to transform working relationships so that employees are focused on collective gains.