FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:  Roxann Henze

November 30, 2001

(703) 726-8302; rhenze@va.gwu.edu

ACCENTURE AND IMT STRATEGIES TEAM WITH GW TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE
MARKET-BASED E-BUSINESS COURSE

“Beyond e” Course to be Offered Spring Semester 2002

Ashburn, VA — The George Washington University Virginia Campus’ e-Business Program announces that Accenture of Reston and IMT Strategies of Stamford, Connecticut are teaming to develop a unique real-world e-Business graduate course for the spring semester.  GW will teach the course collaboratively with executives from Accenture’s Consulting Organization and Stephen Diorio, President of IMT Strategies. Content for the course is derived from Diorio’s book, “Beyond e: 12 Ways Technology is Transforming Sales and Marketing Strategy.” (McGraw Hill)

“Beyond e:  12 Ways to Technology is Transforming Sales and Marketing Strategy” is based on original research conducted by IMT Strategies between 1999 and 2001 – including thousands of interviews with customers and sales and marketing professionals about the major technology trends that are changing the practice of sales and marketing including: interactive marketing, customer relationship management (CRM) and electronic channels. The “Beyond e” course will challenge sales and marketing executives to look beyond current e-business fads to understand the fundamentals that will distinguish leaders in the future.

“This new relationship with Accenture and IMT Strategies is a great opportunity for GW to provide our students with current, real world experience in the rapidly evolving competitive e-Business market, said Dr. Charles Jacobina, director of GW’s e-Business programs at The George Washington University. “We are most pleased to collaborate with 2 well respected, leading e-Business consulting firms to create a unique applied e-business learning experience.”

“This relationship is unique and valuable because it combines the best of all worlds, innovative academic programs from GW, cutting- edge research and intellectual property from “Beyond e,” and access to real world practitioners from Accenture,” said Diorio.

“We at Accenture are excited to have the opportunity to share our real world experiences and leading e-Business abilities with students participating in GW’s e-Business program, said Steve Anders, an associate partner at Accenture.  “We have had the pleasure of working with students and faculty at GW in this field before and find it rewarding.”

Accenture is the world’s leading management and technology consulting organization.  Through its network of businesses approach — in which the company enhances its consulting and outsourcing expertise through alliances, ventures and other capabilities —Accenture delivers innovations that help clients across all industries quickly realize their visions.  With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of $11.4 billion for the first fiscal year ended August 31, 2001. To learn more about Accenture, visit www.accenture.com.

IMT Strategies is a research and consulting firm that helps marketers use technology to grow their businesses.  IMT Strategies produces market-leading best practices research and training on customer relationship management (CRM), interactive direct marketing and call center technologies.  The company helps the world’s leading sales and marketing organizations develop strategies that take advantage of advances in these technologies.  IMT Strategies is an affiliate and strategic partner of the META Group, a leading IT consulting firm.  To learn more about IMT Strategies visit, www.imtstrategies.com

 The e-Business Graduate Certificate Program, launched in September 2000 by the School of Business and Public Management at the GW Virginia Campus, is a cohort-based program emphasizing team learning and diversity.  The program is designed for the working professional and delivered in a comprehensive 12-month program.  The curriculum combines online and offline subjects, case studies, guest speakers, labs, research assignments, and experimental practicum and projects to ensure that participants receive a well-rounded, real-word educational experience.

For information on GW’s E-Business Program visit, www.gwu.edu/~emkt/Ecommerce. To learn more about the GW Virginia Campus, visit www. gwvirginia.gwu.edu. 

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