Custom-Designed Programs - Unique to Your Needs

The Mission of KU Center for Management Education Custom-Designed Programs is to help identify the root causes of a client's challenges, and design and deliver high-impact education and training programs to address to those issues.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The KU School of Business has been designing and delivering custom solutions for companies and trade groups since the Eisenhower administration. In contrast to widely-available cookie-cutter programs, our driving philosophy is simple: One size does not fit all.

Why Work With KU?

  • KUCME is distinguished from commercial providers on an absolutely essential dimension: research-enlightened faculty. The goal is not to repeat solutions that worked five years ago. KU faculty are creating the newest solutions, making us uniquely qualified to bring the most modern thinking to bear on issues in your enterprise.
  • With such a special combination of skills is required, only a small subset of faculty work on KUCME projects. Research enlightenment is a given. Also required is an ability to work effectively with real business men and women in addressing real challenges.
  • KUCME is single-minded in its focus on Value Creation. In a capitalistic environment, you advance overall welfare by creating value for your customers, and then claiming some of that value for the owners. This approach is hard-nosed; if you are not inclined to sharp-edged economic thinking, other providers probably better suit your needs.

Unique Challenges -> Unique Solutions

Whatever makes your business special also produces unique challenges and opportunities. A distinguishing feature of a KUCME Custom-Designed Program is the idiosyncratic nature of each curriculum. Working closely together, we will develop an approach that builds on strengths and addresses weaknesses. The approach may involve small group evaluation of business opportunities, work-flow analysis, conventional didactics, financed-focused evaluation, or other specialized examinations. Trying to predict the details is futile; the structure flows from the analysis, not the other way around.

Your Value Proposition -> KU's Value Proposition

What makes your products and services stand out? To avoid commodity pricing (and razor-thin margins), you distinguish yourself from the competition using many levers: Products, Services, Associates, and Financing. After preliminary due diligence, a specially selected faculty team will work with you to critique the mechanism you employ for creating value. When an agreement is reached on a forward-looking value proposition, you and KU work as a team to realize its potential.

Flexibility

KUCME has the capacity to be deeply involved in development delivery or will respect your wishes for an arms-length arrangement, if you prefer.
  • Development: Faculty can work with you in the assessment phase, or we can take your assessment and work with you to design a program to address the needs you have identified. The choice is yours.
  • Delivery: Where do you want the learning to take place? Your facility? Your city? Lawrence, KS? Who do you want handling local arrangements? KU can handle A/V, rooms, meals, notebooks, and all other "hygiene factors," or you can handle them yourself. The choice is yours.

Contact

We pride ourselves in providing a convenient single point of contact, coordination, and responsibility.

Professor William L. Beedles, Ph.D.
Faculty Coordinator, KUCME
School of Business
1300 Sunnyside Dr.
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-7585

(785) 864-7530
wbeedles@ku.edu


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