GTG Introduction
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This document introduces an online course about managing business growth called "Grow to Greatness". The course aims to help businesses prepare for and manage growth by learning from the challenges faced by 54 growing companies. It will provide a realistic view of growth through case studies and interviews. Students will apply concepts through exercises and discussions to learn how to scale their business in a sustainable way. The format will be interactive with videos, readings and peer learning to help students navigate the challenges of managing growth.
GTG Introduction
- 1. Grow to Greatness: Smart Growth for Private Businesses Part I INTRODUCTION Ed Hess ehess@darden.virginia.edu
- 2. Focus of the Course First, this Course is NOT about starting a business. This Course is about the common challenges of growing a business. It’s a Course about learning to scale a business—making it bigger and better.
- 3. Why is this Course important? Growing a business presents challenges that are different than starting a business. If not properly managed, those challenges could destroy the business. This Course is based on my research of 54 high growth, private, U.S. businesses—the challenges they faced as they grew. From these examples, you will learn how to prepare for your own business growth challenges.
- 4. Purpose of the Course To help you prepare for and grow a business. To learn the meaning of SMART Growth. To give you a better appreciation for and a researched-based approach to business growth. To help you understand the risks of growth. This Course is not anti-growth. The aim is to present a realistic view of the challenges of business growth.
- 5. Course Themes Business growth is like Mother Nature: She can be kind or she can be destructive. Too much growth too soon, or growth that’s not properly managed, can overwhelm a business. As a business grows, it needs more people, processes and controls. As a business grows, the entrepreneur must “grow” too.
- 6. Course Themes Growth requires scaling. Growth rarely is smooth, predicable or linear. Growth is a learning journey—one that has ups, downs, zigzags, and mistakes. Growth is change, and change is constant as the business grows.
- 7. Course Logo I chose this logo because it reflects that growth: • Requires caring hands • Small businesses are fragile, just like young plants. To grow a small business successfully, you need the right amounts of the right ingredients at the right times.
- 8. Course Format All of the business cases and workshop examples we will read about and discuss are true stories. This Course brings real-life business growth challenges to you. You will also hear directly from real, private business builders who will share their experiences and knowledge with you through short video interviews.
- 9. How will you learn? This Course is based on the principle that one learns by doing. You will have both required and optional readings. You will be asked to apply concepts in the Workshop exercises. You will gauge your understanding of concepts through in-video quizzes. Through the Discussion Forums, you will learn from each other.
- 10. Creating a Course Community This Course is an opportunity for you to learn and grow together. I encourage you to participate in the Discussion Forums and create your own Study Group Forums based on geography, your type of business or profession or any other attributes you wish. Please carefully read the instructions on our Course page regarding posting comments on the Discussion Forms and creating your own Study Groups. You may also choose to get together with your Study Groups through Meetups.
- 11. A Few Course Ground Rules This Course is offered by the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia for free because of the school’s mission to positively impact society. I expect that everyone taking this Course will act respectfully toward classmates. Everyone is here to learn. During the Course, you will have the opportunity to raise questions and offer feedback. My goal is to make this a great learning experience for you.