Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
In essence, businesses and institutions apply different strategies in their operations to achieve set goals and targets. Myles and Snow, as well as Porter (2008), argue that when choosing a strategy, it is important to analyze the objectives of the institution as well as the priorities. Different organizations have different goals and priorities. Institutions of Higher Learning (IHEs) change their strategies based on several factors (Rowley & Sherman, 2001). They depend on the level of competition among different IHEs within a given area. Furthermore, they change their competitive strategies based on the level of the IHE in the area. Fundamentally, to brand effectively, the IHEs need to analyze their goals and determine whether they would like a defensive or offensive approach (Porter, 2008). They also need to determine the differentiating factors between them and other institutions.
The board of trustees of ABC University expects the new president to lead the institution in a single direction. They want the leader to make the university a specialty. Several other lecturers have failed in the past. Hence, they hope that the current president would make it happen. In as much as their expectations are justified, they should not put too much pressure on the president. They need to let him lead in the manner that he will be comfortable. The university could fail to achieve its goals and targets if they put undue pressure on the leader. In fact, he will not function properly under such conditions.
Mission Statements
The mission statements of some IHEs are listed below.
Houston University: To enable our students gain access to opportunities that would offer them a chance to be competitive across the world in different diverse situations.
When one observes these mission statements, it is easy to note that they have one standard feature. All of them aim at providing a better educational opportunity to make their students competitive in the market (Teeratansirikool, Siengthai, Badir, & Charoenngam, 2013). The issue points to the need for the IHEs to be competitive and attract more students than their counterparts.
References
Porter, M. E. (2008). On competition. Harvard Business Press.
Rowley, D. J., & Sherman, H. (2001). Issues of strategic implementation in higher education: The special concerns for institutions in developing economies. Unpublished Paper: Long Island University.
Teeratansirikool, L., Siengthai, S., Badir, Y., & Charoenngam, C. (2013). Competitive strategies and firm performance: The mediating role of performance measurement. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 62(2), 168-184.
