The Institute's annual executive course emphasizes strategic, crosscutting, senior management-level challenges facing purchasers. Particular attention is given to a mix of high priority leadership and management issues such as:

• Marketplace strategies and tactics
• Organizational development necessary to support purchasing
• Health outcomes improvement
• Adaptation to market and technological change
• Cross-fertilization of ideas and innovations
• Managing high-cost, high-risk populations

The Institute also offers several advanced purchasing workshops or seminars each year. These focus on concrete management and operational challenges and skills set development. Examples include:

• Contracting strategies
• Performance incentives
• Beneficiary communication and involvement
• Performance measurement
• Programmatic challenges like caring for special needs populations

The workshops concentrate on technical problem-solving and skills