#199 the industry

There is a body of literature calling for higher education to change and a host of research saying that change happens through people.  So, many moons ago, I wrote my dissertation about whether there was an intersection between these two -- in other words, was higher education doing anything to educate its faculty and staff about the academy as an enterprise.  The answer, not surprisingly, was no.  Millions of dollars are spent sending the history professors to history conferences, the financial aid administrators to financial aid workshops, presidents to presidents summits, etc. but little is done for campus-wide training about the needs of higher education as a business.  If you asked most employees on a campus what they do, they would say "I work in admissions" or "I teach art" or "I am an accountant at X College", but their first affinity isn't naturally to higher education, or even to the education sector.  I imagine the same is true in most large organizations.

It is a lost opportunity that more isn't done with mid-level managers and beyond to help them understand the bigger picture and conditions under which their organization and industry is operating.  A more robust understanding of the challenges could lead to initiatives, opportunities, and new ways of conducting business.  By keeping people in discipline-specific silos we are only encouraging greatness in that area rather than the interdisciplinary collaboration that will be necessary to have true innovation.

Take a step back today and think about your organization from a more macro-level.  What are the environmental and social factors that are influencing your work?  What is looming on the horizon?  What is happening beyond your isolated organization that should matter to you?  It may be a great way to start the new year by involving people from all levels of your organization in a discussion about the industry.  Have them do some homework and really think about the business they are in.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
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