While Mars certainly has chocolate and pet food down to a science, developing a corporate learning program was not its forte. The company turned to CorpU to provide direction and best practices in instituting Mars University and transforming learning into a business advantage.

The first step that CorpU took was to have Mars identify its key business goals so that learning programs were aligned with achieving these objectives. At Mars, Return on Total Assets (ROTA) is the leading measurement of business performance, with a stringent emphasis on maximizing output with minimal assets. Also, innovation, lean manufacturing, and associate engagement are three prominent corporate ideals, and it is around these principles that Mars University was built.

CorpU also developed a guide book with information regarding roles and responsibilities of key team members and a marketing communication plan to roll the program out. It also includes a detailed funding model, curriculum plans and information on establishing a learning management system. Perhaps most importantly, CorpU guided Mars on how to evaluate its learning program to ensure progress.

To provide structure and efficiency, CorpU instituted a governing body for Mars University, led by President Paul Michaels and consisting of the deans of each of the ten colleges. The Lean Operations Systems College and Management and Leadership College are transversal, applying to all associates regardless of area of work. Eight additional colleges are structured around functional departments, including Supply, R&D, Marketing and I.T

“By using CorpU’s expertise on a range of issues from measurement to learning management systems, governance structure, curriculum development and deployment principles, we were able to speed up the learning curve and get Mars University up and running very quickly,” says John Shepherd, Chief Learning Officer, Mars Incorporated.