Executive Development Center: About Us

FROM WHERE WE COME:
The Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University

The Atkinson School's unique approach to management education is founded on two principles:

1. Integration - the content of our curriculum derives from the best practices of management applicable across every sector of the economy.
   
   
2. Student-centered learning - our educational process derives from the capabilities, motivations and interests of the students.

Our objective is not to educate specialists - accountants, marketers, economic forecasters or financiers - although that happens as a byproduct of what we do. Our objective is to educate managers to understand how each function within an organization affects every other function. Our integrated curriculum builds on the notion that the best in management generalizes to any organization because, from a managerial perspective, the differences between business, government and not-for-profit organizations are matters of degree not kind.

The tools mangers need for the 21st century include analytical skills to structure problems and convert them into opportunities, as well as understanding the functional skills required to solve problems and exploit opportunities. The rapidly globalizing economy demands a generalist perspective that take a broad view of the organization. Increasingly, public and private organizations will be partners so that managers in business must understand the workings of government and mangers in government must understand the workings of business.

Communications, leadership, and team skills will be requisites for success in an increasingly diverse workforce.