Lee Howser. President of Jackson Community College. I love this guy! He explains what happened after the school took a hard look at the realities it faced:
"Once 'mess formulation' is completed and the story is told about the need to redesign, interactive design calls for assuming that the system 'blew up last night,' and that only the environment remains intact.Designers, however, can remember what they loved about the system and keep best practices and systems. The rest of the system is designed from a clean sheet of paper, leaving the 'mess' behind" (p. 131).
I have never participated in a process like this. Usually, the types of discussions I've had about changing an organization have been hampered by naysayers. This process "blows up" the obstacles, but it keeps the opportunities. What a refreshing approach.
Another reason I love Howser: He tells his faculty, "For 25 years, I have heard you say to the JCC administration, 'Give us leadership, but don't tell us what to do.' Here is your chance to design your world and realize your dreams" (p. 132). Who wouldn't want to work for a guy like that?!
P.S. (The title to this post is a link to Jackson Community College's website.)
Interesting and definitely someone I could see myself working for. I recently changed jobs and joined another vocational college campus that is going through a major mess right now. My task is to try to bring up a department in a short period of time.
ReplyDeleteI will have to look into Jackson Community College for ideas.
Good luck with your new job, Julie. What would you define as the "major mess" facing your new college?
ReplyDelete