The Answer is in the Question
I’m a student again. At least for the next three days. Last night I started an exec ed class called, “Achieving Breakthrough Service” at HBS.
The classes are taught by the Case Method. In law school they refer to this as the Socratic Method.
Socrates was famous for asking question after question when debating a topic. He would wear out his opponents.
The role of the student at HBS is to come prepared to answer questions about the cases. The role of the professor is to ask the questions. Simple, right?
Last night we took on our first case involving a hospital. Professor Das Narayandas gave us a primer on the method. By reviewing the case we discussed the types of questions that are universal. Here were my takeaways:
- What type of business are we in?
- What is our mission or ultimately … our purpose?
- Who are we going to serve?
- How are we going to be different?
- Who is going to do it?
Today is going to be a long one. 4 cases on the docket. Wish me luck.
Today’s Lagniappe (a little something extra thrown in for good measure) – Here is a look into the classrooms and life at HBS. I can only hope I’m singing a similar tune at the end of this course:
