VietNamNet Bridge – To build powerful groups, which have globally-popular brands and prestige, Vietnam need to have well-trained high-ranking leaders of economic groups, who are capable to take their firms to the world.



World top business schools have specialized programs to train economic leaders. The Harvard Business School’s AMP is one of the most highly appreciated programs. VietNamNet’s Vietnam Economic Forum talks with Das Narayandas, James J. Hill Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School about this program, in order to find out useful information for Vietnamese businesses.

Prof. Narayandas said that a majority of AMP participants experience a personal transformation built on how they learn and engage with the various elements of the program.  AMP affects the way leaders process information and decisions.  It helps them engage and interpret others more effectively. In that sense, AMP is a platform for individuals to discover their own leadership styles and approaches in a variety of contexts.

The case method approach provides a unique window into how participants experience AMP.  They analyze the case on their own and come up with their assessment and approach.  They then engage with peers and develop an appreciation of different viewpoints and interpretations.  Then they discuss the case in class with faculty facilitation, where they distill their conversation into a set of toolkits/frameworks/takeaways.  Finally, the participants mesh this information across the various sessions together and apply their own holistic approach in their jobs when they return to their organizations after the program.  

Could you tell us what the differences between AMP and GMP are?

AMP and GMP are each targeted toward distinct participant groups.  AMP participants are CEO designates or one or two levels below the CEO and possess decision-making authority and P/L responsiblities.  They typically come from organizations with annual revenues of at least $250 million and have typically been in general management roles.  GMP is more targeted at executives with recently acquired or expanded general management responsibilities.

For AMP participants, the focus for participants is to retrain their skills, retool their knowledge and reframe their horizons.  AMP, therefore, is a very integrated program designed to help participants better weave together the various functions of general management into a vision and strategy that creates and captures value for their firms/institutions and the various stakeholders.  

From a leadership perspective, AMP focuses on indirect forms of leadership; how participants build, design and lead large organizations.  GMP focuses more on helping participants, who have newly acquired P&L responsibility, develop business unit and general management leadership approaches.

The structure of the programs also differs.  AMP is held on the HBS campus for 8 intensive weeks, while GMP takes place over the course of 5 modules, consisting of 3 off-campus modules and 2 on-campus modules (each 3-4 weeks in duration).

Further information on the comprehensive leadership programs offered by HBS can be found at http://www.exed.hbs.edu/landing/Pages/clpcomparison.aspx.

What makes AMP at HBS unique in comparison with other programs?

The depth and breadth of AMP makes it a unique program; the breadth of topics covered and the depth with which participants explore each of them.  Some participants have referred to it as ‘drinking from a fire hose’, but they come to the program equipped and ready to absorb a lot of information and learning, and then apply that to their companies.

Other key elements of the AMP experience include:

•    The peer-to-peer interaction is central to the AMP experience.  The concept of the ‘living group’ where participants actually live in close quarters with their peers was actually first tested at AMP and is now used broadly across HBS executive programs.  The value of this approach is that participants get to discuss cases and issues with different people, helping them understand that even with the same information, leaders can come to very distinct conclusions based on their own backgrounds and experience.  This encourages participants to take a holistic perspective and make sense of the given situation, and then, given all the variables in play, take the right decisions.
•    The diversity of the group is a core element of AMP, with participants from over 50 countries and from a wide variety of industries from professional services and manufacturing firms, from products to service oriented businesses, from b2b to b2bc firms.  
•    The HBS teaching method is a uniquely important part of AMP and all HBS executive education programs.  We use the case method, which brings a closeness to practice to each class, with cases researched and authored by HBS faculty.  This brings a richness and depth of understanding to each case. We supplement this by bringing in experts and executives to present their views and participate in the class discussion.
•    The length of AMP – at 8 weeks – creates a uniquely immersive experience.
•    And a network of over 20,000 AMP alumni across the globe allows participants to continue their peer-to-peer learning and friendships well beyond the program.

We have also provided these quotes from AMP participants:

"The AMP experience is truly reflective of our global economy.  In my class, there are 39 countries represented.  And, although we are from different cultures, what matters the most to everyone—the core of our humanity - is very much the same.  We care about our employees, our families, our communities and about making a positive contribution with our talents, training, and opportunities." - Stephen Miller [Executive Vice President], The Biltmore Company, U.S.

"One of the benefits of being exposed to such a wide range of cultural and industry backgrounds for eight weeks is that I now understand that people approach things from very different mindsets.  In my industry in the UK, for example, we may have a very different approach as we look at new markets in other areas of the world.  AMP gave me the rare opportunity to experience the intensity of having six different conversations in a day with people from widely different backgrounds.  And I am looking forward to building on that intensity when I get back to the office." -    Jez Maiden [Group Finance Director], National Express Group PLC, U.K.

If a business leader just got around $70,000 USD but he is really interested in getting into AMP, is there any chance for him?

Because a diverse participant mix is an important part of every HBS Executive Education program, we look for candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds to enrich the learning experience. Admission to AMP is for highly qualified senior business leaders.  By being selective, we can maintain and ensure the highest levels of quality and experience for participants.

Program participants are nominated and sponsored by their current employer.  To apply, business leaders must submit an application and sponsoring statement.

There is no formal educational requirement to apply for AMP and admission to the program is determined by professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.  Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential.

The program lasts 8 weeks. Could participants have enough time to absorb knowledge and build networks with classmates and faculty?

AMP is a personally transformative experience for participants.  The 8-week program is intensive and covers a variety of crucial business, industry and macroeconomic topics in great depth.  But AMP is not an 8-week intervention.  The concepts and ideas that AMP participants are exposed to are assimilated during and after the program.  Once the participants return to their organizations and begin to apply skills learned at AMP, full absorption of the program really takes hold.

The daily schedule does allow for engagement between participants and engagement with faculty members.  

In addition AMP participants and their sponsoring organizations benefit from personalized learning activities to develop strategy for addressing current and future organizational challenges.  Participants receive 360-degree feedback, one-on-one coaching and program activities tailored for issues within their organization.

Many say the advent of Internet has changed everything, particularly created new visions and new ways of thinking. How does HBS incorporate these new factors in executive education and MBA education?

Even beyond the internet, the world is in continuous flux – increasingly global, more competitive and evolving more quickly than ever before.  

In that context, it is crucial that AMP continue to evolve and stay relevant.  We put great emphasis on ensuring our content, teaching and delivery method are at the cutting edge.

- Our content evolves continually to stay relevant and bring the most up-to-date discussions to participants.  For instance, on the eve of Facebook stock being priced, we will be teaching a Facebook case at AMP.
- The topics we cover evolve.  For instance, sustainability is a topic we currently cover that was not emphasized in the past.
- We do incorporate technology into the delivery of our classes and teaching materials.  We have mobile apps, many more multimedia cases, webinars for AMP alumni and a dedicated AMP web portal for participants.
- And our participant mix has evolved.  For instance, the advent of the internet has led to many more entrepreneurs in AMP.  So the people taking the program are also a reflection of the evolving nature of global business.

The Global Leadership Forum of HBS has been canceled since 2009. Could you tell us why this great program has not been continued?

The Global Leadership Forum was an alumni only event that took place every other year. It last ran in 2006.  We still do similar events, such AMP reunions, where alumni engage on timely topics with faculty.  The last two were held in India and Shanghai.

Lan Anh/Dieu Thuy