GSEM - Graduate School of Management Seminars

Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't (Jim Collins). Making the transition from good to great doesn't require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy. At the heart of those rare and truly great companies was a corporate culture that rigorously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. This seminar offers a well-reasoned road map to excellence that any organization would do well to consider.

As people move up the organizational ladder they are often thrown into situations for which they are not prepared. Social skills and etiquette are requirements for leaders of today. This seminar will provide an opportunity to learn about wine and formal dining etiquette with an Illinois sommelier at a local restaurant, how to handle challenging etiquette conversations and situations, as well as additional topical etiquette issues.

This seminar will assist students in strengthening their oral communication skills for business. A balance of theory and practice will be provided.

The purpose of this training is to provide individuals and intact teams with useful concepts and practical tools for increasing team effectiveness.  Specifically, team members learn about team basis and the characteristics of effective teams as well as a model for team development.  In addition, they are given many opportunities to apply specific team development methods, tools, and activities.

This seminar is a culmination of a variety of experts’ ideas on how to successfully negotiate. We will address a variety of topics. We will discuss, role-play, and view video clips on dealing with conflict in negotiations. Each participant will also complete a self-assessment of his/her own personal style of negotiation and we will discuss the impact each style has on negotiations.

This is an advanced seminar in the area of business ethics: dilemmas which modern businesses face. Often individuals are caught with personal and organizational conflicts due to competing values. What is the source(s) upon which our values and behaviors are based? What are the differences between what is moral, legal, and ethical behavior and codes of conduct? These are the questions this short seminar will address. Through the use of films, group discussions, and presentations, the seminar will be an exciting, thought-provoking learning experience.

This seminar is designed to cover the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) areas tested in the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).  The nine PMBOK areas are:  Scope, Time, Cost, HR, Risk, Integration, Quality, Communication, and Procurement management. The focus is going to be on preparing students to pass the PMP certification exam.