Case Study: Credit Suisse

Client Background
Credit Suisse First Boston, (CSFB), is a leading global investment banking firm serving institutional, corporate, government and individual clients. CSFB's businesses include securities underwriting, sales and trading, investment and merchant banking, financial advisory services and online brokerage services. It operates in over 77 locations across six continents.

Business Situation
Both the Investment Banking Division and the Fixed Income/Global Equity Divisions of CSFB assemble their newly hired Associates from around the world to participate in a common training program. For the past four years, managers at CSFB have turned to Outward Bound&##174; Professional to provide an accelerated learning program that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers.

Program Objectives
While having a common shared experience to remember their training, the main goals of the program were to:

• Emphasize working in teams.

• Develop networking and bonding.

• Develop trust and explore risk taking.

Program Outcomes
Based upon the post program evaluations and feedback from managers, Outward Bound&##174; Professional exceeded CSFB's expectations, helping create a sharing culture in a group of naturally competitive individuals. Specific outcomes included:

Improved Teamwork:
The international group realized that by working in effective teams, a diversity of approaches improved brainstorming, planning and strategic thinking. Execution of tasks was improved through the appropriate use of both group and individual resources.

Networking:
Participants went beyond learning each others names and job functions by engaging in tasks that bring out a person's real personality. As a result of close relationships throughout the company, individuals can easily call on the company's global resources in order to serve clients more effectively.

Understanding Trust and Risk Taking:
In addition to building trust in each other, the Outward Bound activities lead to a better understanding about gaining a client's trust. Participants learned skills that enable them to evaluate varying degrees of risk, enhance decision-making skills and to better serve their clients.

What the client said
"I found the Outward Bound experience invaluable as a tool for rapid and efficient integration into Credit Suisse First Boston. Nascent professional and personal relationships were actively fostered by well devised and executed team-building exercises. In all, an enjoyable and worthwhile experience which should be shared by professionals of every global competitive corporation."

Participant, Fixed Income Class, Credit Suisse First Boston