Harvard Business School Launches HBS Interactive; NewCorporate E-Learning Startup Combines Depth...

Business/Technology Editors & Education Writers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28, 2000

Harvard Business School (HBS), a pioneer in executive education for more than 50 years, announced today the establishment of a wholly-owned nonprofit organization called HBS Interactive

According to Dean Kim B. Clark, "HBSi is the magic that melds the classroom teaching that is a hallmark of the Harvard Business School experience with the creative use of the latest e-learning tools -- combining and customizing them to offer a total solution for client organizations. This new entity reflects the School's long tradition of providing transformational educational experiences for managers and leaders at every level of an enterprise."

HBSi aims to be the world's premier source for custom executive education that uses interactive, Internet-based instruction; for online materials in business education; and for online access to the intellectual capital of Harvard Business School. It draws upon the extraordinary breadth and depth of the HBS faculty as well as the unparalleled resources of the School's Baker Library, which provides such innovative services as HBS Working Knowledge, an online portal for management information and research (www.workingknowledge.hbs.edu).

HBSi's products will complement classroom executive education programs at HBS or the client company, ranging from individualized online offerings to comprehensive "suites" of courses that utilize a variety of media, as well as participating Harvard Business School faculty and live interactive activities. Emphasizing critical management skills in a just-in-time and personalized way, HBSi will also add value by shortening the time between the creation of leading-edge business knowledge and its dissemination to executives.

HBSi is led by several experienced faculty and staff from Harvard Business School, all of whom have done considerable work in executive education, electronic learning, and case-based instruction. Professor W. Earl Sasser, Jr., most recently Senior Associate Dean and Chair of Executive Education, has been appointed Chief Content Officer and Chairman of the Board. Sasser also leads a faculty advisory group that plays an important role in guiding the development of the new organization. Robert Fogel, formerly Executive Director of Executive Education at HBS and a major contributor to the design and growth of the School's open enrollment and custom program offerings, serves as President and CEO of the new venture.

"HBSi's winning combination of e-learning technology and seasoned educators will extend the reach and impact of Harvard Business School to every level of a firm and to all corners of the world," Sasser observed. "We believe that through the power of HBSi's custom education approach, we can help nurture an accomplished and influential group of managers and leaders who seek to improve their personal, organizational, and business performance. We do this because it is central to Harvard Business School's mission to educate leaders."

According to Fogel, "HBSi will add many new dimensions and capabilities to Harvard Business School's already extensive portfolio of custom Executive Education Programs. It will allow us to create new hybrid learning models -- both face-to-face and electronic -- in a world where place and space continue to blend together. Our clients include companies such as America Online, Bertlesmann AG, General Motors, Novartis AG, and The World Bank Group."

Commenting on the launch of HBSi, Dr. Detlef Hunsdiek, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Bertelsmann, the Germany-based media giant, noted, "Based on our previous experiences with Harvard Business School, we expect HBSi to augment our professional learning efforts by delivering innovative, Web-based offerings of uncompromising quality and with high applicability in today's global workplace."

Dr. Daniel L. Vasella, Chairman and CEO of Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical firm, added, "In our highly interactive world, e-learning has become a 'must' for spreading knowledge throughout the enterprise both quickly and effectively. With the creation of HBSi, Harvard Business School is leading the way by strategically leveraging its world-renowned faculty and vast expertise in research, course development, information dissemination, and new technology. I see HBSi as the natural next step in our ongoing relationship with Harvard Business School."

Founded in 1908, Harvard Business School (www.hbs.edu) is widely recognized around the world as the leader in business education. Located on a 35-acre campus in Boston, it offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and doctoral degrees, as well as a portfolio of over 70 Executive Education Programs. With a faculty of more than 200 distinguished scholars, the School has long shaped the practice of business by educating leaders, building enduring knowledge, and communicating important ideas to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new century.