CBA in practice

Program kick-off

The CBA program starts with a kick-off meeting that helps to prepare you for the coming six months. And gives you a chance to meet your fellow students and the AVT team.

Preparatory courses

The first preparatory courses begin right after the kick-off.  There are three courses:

• Case Study – A one-day course on the Case Learning Method (mandatory)
• Study Preparation & Techniques – A two-day course (optional; a fee applies)
• Basic Accounting – A two-day course (optional; a fee applies)

Setting the scene with “Competition and Strategy”

The first CBA program module is Competition and Strategy I. Professor Paul Tiffany from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, introduces the fascinating world of business strategy.
You will also be given access to the Harvard ManageMentor. This is an expansive online resource that offers practical interactive training, tips, checklists, articles and templates covering 42 different areas of management. Developed by Harvard Business School Publishing and customized for AVT CBA and MBA participants, this system is a vast and invaluable resource.

Next stop: an inspirational study tour to Cambridge, Boston, USA

The next CBA modules cover Leadership & Organizational Behavior and Operations Management.  Both are taught on the study tour to Cambridge, Boston, USA. The trip will include a visit to Harvard Business School, as well as the legendary Harvard Faculty Club at Harvard University. John Deighton from Harvard Business School will guest lecture on Social Media.

Continue on with classes once a month

After the study tour is complete, we continue with regular classes once a month.

The classes are held at the AVT Business School at Sankt Annæ Plads in the center of Copenhagen, close to Kongens Nytorv. The AVT Business School features state-of-the-art executive education environment with a new auditorium, group work facilities, comfortable lounges and a library. As a CBA participant, you are welcome to use these facilities freely for your studies as well as for group work.

After each module, we say “goodbye” with a glass of wine and a snack.

A week after the end of each module, you will receive an online questionnaire for your feedback on the module, the professor and your learning experience.

Your feedback helps us make ongoing curriculum improvements. It is therefore made available to AVT management, the professor and the Dean. We regularly brief our participants on the changes and improvements that have been made as a consequence of their feedback.

CBA classes

Teaching starts at 8:30 am and we work until 5.30 pm. The day will be a mix of lectures, case learning, group work and perhaps some preparations for the next day. Coffee, water and snacks are available during breaks and you will also be served a light breakfast and lunch during daytime class sessions.

The Casebook

When you meet for a class session, you will receive a casebook, textbooks, and other materials for the next module, which takes place one month later. The casebook contains the intended learning objectives, a reading list, and the actual cases you must become familiar with. The casebook also explains the any projects you must complete as part of the course.

As with any education program, it is important to be prepared for class. The professors expect that you have read the assigned material. They base their teaching on your active participation.

Studies and required papers

Each CBA participant must complete one individual paper and two group papers during the course of the program. These papers must relate to the participant’s areas of responsibility. Each will require approximately 50 hours of work.

CBA participants must also complete an online e-learning program, as well as an individual strategic project assignment at the conclusion of the program. The strategic project assignment will require approximately 100 hours of work.

Projects must be submitted to AVT faculty no later than 30 days after completion of classroom lectures. Papers will be graded using the A-F scale. Graduation requires a grade of ‘C-‘ or better.

You should expect to spend 100 hours on your studies each month. This includes preparation, classes and time spent on writing papers.

This means that you will have to study approximately 20 hours to prepare for each class. The actual time spent within this range is, of course, highly individual.

You will have one individual paper and two group papers to complete (50 hours / 3,000 words each). You will also be required to complete a final Applied Research Project (100 hours / 6,000 words).

Additionally, you must complete the online learning program, “Developing As a Leader” (35 hours), as part of the leadership course. All papers are graded, forming the basis for an assessment of your performance during the CBA program. There are no other exams.

Upon successful completion of all required projects, you will receive your CBA title and diploma at the CBA graduation – a festive occasion we all look forward to. Should you wish to continue your studies following completion of the CBA program, you may consider joining the AVT MBA that starts each year in September.