Purdue program focuses on strategic decisions

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University faculty experts will help food and agricultural business professionals make better business decisions at the upcoming Strategic Decision Making program, June 13-15, in West Lafayette.

The program is hosted by Purdue’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business. It centers around the fact that, while company leaders make decisions daily, some decisions have the potential to have major impacts on the direction of the company.

“We call these ‘fork-in-the-road’ decisions,” said Allan Gray, center director, Land O’Lakes Chair for Food and Agribusiness, and program presenter. “We’re talking about make-or-break decisions, such as new product strategies, investment opportunities and research and development initiatives—just to name a few. Because of their impact, these decisions take more time and require a more strategic and structured approach.”

Presenters, in addition to Gray, are Michael Boehlje, distinguished professor of agricultural economics; Nicole Widmar, associate professor of agricultural economics; and Nathan Thompson, assistant professor of agricultural economics. They will cover frameworks and tools for effective decision-making, avoiding psychological decision traps, knowing when to kill a project, and decision implementation.

Participants will develop a more reasoned and systematic approach to making critical decisions, acquire a set of practical decision-making tools, and learn techniques to maintain current business while driving future growth.

Participants also can take part in an optional individual case study by bringing a specific decision to the program. A guided framework will help individuals work through their specific decisions and faculty will offer one-on-one feedback. The case study allows participants to immediately apply the tools presented in the classroom to real decisions.

Learn more and register at http://agribusiness.purdue.edu/seminars-and-events/strategic-decision-making. Direct questions to April Sauer, center managing director, at aasauer@purdue.edu or 765-494-4328.           

Writer: Jennifer Stewart-Burton, 765-496-6032, jsstewar@purdue.edu 

Sources: Allan Gray, 765-494-4323, gray@purdue.edu

April Sauer, 765-494-4328, aasauer@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu  
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