The Sum of Many Parts
Vince Lombardi, the legendary Green Bay Packer’s coach, is often quoted for his memorable phrases. One specific quote is “The achievement of an organization are the results of the combined efforts of each individual.” Lombardi coached the Packers to 5 NFL Championships, specifically Super Bowls I and II. In his tough-minded personality, Lombardi stressed the importance of teamwork and dedication to the purpose of the organization. The lesson is very simple. The effort of one individual will never sum to the efforts of a team. Or, in other words, success is always the sum...
Read MorePursuing Organizational Excellence
At Southeastern University, I work for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (IE). Our job is to coordinate, assist with, and (ultimately) improve the evaluative and planning process for the university. A great deal of our work is to ask the tough questions of university departments. For instance, we might ask the following : How does the work of your department support the mission and vision of the university? What evidence exists to demonstrate that these “activities” are effective? And, how are you planning for future growth and/or improvement? These questions help initiate...
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