STRATEGY SESSION

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

How can decision analysis contribute to effective strategy development in the public and private sector? This question is at the core of MARA 2006 as the MARA teams will support MARA partner organisations in strategy-related problem solving. In advance to their efforts, the MARA 2006 Strategy Session will provide both participants and partners with the opportunity to exchange perspectives and stimulate critical thinking in the area of strategy and strategy development. The MARA Organisational Team has invited high-profile academics and practitioners to introduce and discuss different conceptual frameworks.

Topics of the MARA 2006 Strategy Session include: definitions of strategy, differences in strategy development processes, roadblocks to effective strategy development and 'rational' methodologies to improve development processes. Through listening and actively engaging, participants of the MARA Strategy Session can share their thoughts and perspectives, thereby sharpening their (own) 'strategic understanding'.

Three experienced academics in the area of strategy development, Prof. Jobst Fiedler (Hertie School of Governance), Prof. Michael Mirow (TU Berlin) and Prof. Larry Phillips (London School of Economics) will present their views on strategy and strategy development. Jointly, the group will engage in interactive plenary lecture-like sessions and workshops.

PARTICIPANTS

• Academics
  • Prof. Jobst Fiedler serves as the Associate Dean of the Hertie School of Governance and teaches in the field of Public Management and Finance. He was executive mayor ('Oberstadtdirektor') of the city of Hannover and spent eight years as managing partner with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants where he headed the Competence Center Public Services.
  • Prof. Michael Mirow is Honorary Professor at the Ludwig-Maximillian University of Munich, the Technical University of Berlin and the Bavarian Elite Academy. As Senior Vice President and Chief Strategist of Siemens AG he created and led the corporate strategy department at the Siemens AG. In addition, he co-founded the Siemens Management Consulting.
  • Prof. Larry Phillips is Visiting Professor of Operational Research at the London School of Economics and a Director of Catalyze Limited. Prof. Phillips created the LSE Decision Analysis Unit and developed decision conferencing, a methodology for helping groups of key players to find solutions to complex strategic issues of concern to their organisation. He has more than 30 years of consulting and teaching experience in the area of decision analysis.

• MARA participants (approx. 30 international (PhD) students and Young Professionals from various disciplines and countries)
• MARA partners (experts from MARA partner organisations and MARA's Premium Partner A.T. Kearney)