Action Learning

Redefine impact.

The MIT EMBA curriculum emphasizes MIT’s motto mens et manus (mind and hand). This powerful integration of intellectual and experiential learning manifests in applied learning projects that magnify your classroom learning, ground them in real-time implementation, and deliver impact for you and your company right from day one. 

Applied Projects

Applied learning, or Action Learning projects, are a central component of your coursework and give you an opportunity to apply new methodologies to your organization and industries of interest. For example, in Competitive Strategy you’ll apply Porter’s Five Forces to gain insight into competitive dynamics in your industry. In Operations Management, you’ll analyze processes in your organization to identify opportunities for improvement. And in System Dynamics, you’ll apply techniques created at MIT to model your organization’s complex systems, understand how to navigate that complexity, and drive successful change. 

Organizations Lab (O-Lab)

Midway through the program, you’ll take and apply everything you’ve learned so far to undertake a change initiative within your company. You’ll build on courses like System Dynamics, Leading Organizations, and Operations Management to diagnose a problem and implement iterative changes that lead to lasting sustainable improvements. 

Executive Labs

Executive Labs, the capstone Action Learning opportunity, takes place in your final Spring term. Students can select from two distinct lab offerings: Global Organizations Lab (GO Lab) and Innovative Driven Entrepreneurial Advantage Lab (IDEA Lab). 

Students in each lab form teams to engage in project work for four months. In GO-Lab, you’ll be matched with a multi-national organization to address critical cross-border management challenges or opportunities, highlighted by a field study in March. Students engaged in IDEA Lab will work on their own startup, with a classmate on their startup, or with an already existing organization or ecosystem looking to accelerate innovation. 

 Learn more about executive Labs

Questions about hosting an action learning project?

Contact:
Action Learning Office
actionlearning@mit.edu