Sunday, July 1st, 2012
Dr. Madhusudan Atre Former President and MD, Applied Materials India Vegashakti Consultants, Nurturing Success “Purnapramati – A Center for Integrated Learning” is a school which is different from most of the other schools. It aims to integrate the modern school system of education with the traditional Indian values and knowledge. A holistic grooming of children, from their initial years, is envisaged – helping them to be armed with the modern knowledge base built on the foundations of classical Indian learning – and all this from the early stages of primary school. Being different also brings its excitements and challenges on various fronts – some of which are Infrastructure, Organization and its Structure, Management & Leadership, Teachers, Success Factors, Criteria & Metrics to measure success, etc. Being different also has the advantage that one can address the various aspects and challenges in one’s own way, rather than through established means. This gives an opportunity to establish path-breaking and pioneering methodologies in the education system addressing integrated learning. Some thoughts, as well as pointers, on some of the organizational topics are presented below (the list is not prioritized, all of them are important): 1. Learning from Others: There have been other schools and educational institutions (at various levels from school to universities) which have also addressed holistic learning. It is important to understand what successes and challenges they have faced, and learn from them. Take the positives, and keep in mind the areas of improvements. 2. Organization: It is very important to set up a proper organization structure. The proper requirements need to be identified – Trust Board, Governing/Advisory Board, Executive Team, Operational Team, etc. It is critical to have clearly defined positions, along with well defined roles and responsibilities, reporting, performance appraisals, etc. 3. Strategic and Tactical: Keep in mind the important aspects of Vision, Mission, Core Values, Goals, and Roadmaps – and enable their success from the very beginning by setting up the right environment and platforms. The long term strategic goals should be the guiding stars, and the short term tactical roadmaps should be the achievements. 4. Empowerment & Accountability: Each role and position has to be empowered to do the job, and properly balanced with accountability towards doing the job. The system should be based on meritocracy – and is applicable for all people within the organization, whether they are teachers or directors or advisors or trustees. 5. High Standards: The aim and vision should be for the highest standards of quality, outputs, team, etc. It is important to aim for the galaxies, so that one can at least reach the sun and the moon. 6. Organization v/s Individual: While it is important for each person within the organization to contribute his/her best and be successful, it is important to keep in mind that Organization comes before Self. “Silo – Mentality” should not be encouraged. It is indeed true that “an individual succeeds when the organization succeeds”, and not the other way round. Team work is the key. 7. Success Factors: Along with accountability comes the need to define success and measure it. Suitable metrics and criteria need to be defined and put in place. All the people in the organization must realize what the organization expects of them to be successful, and how they will be held accountable. 8. Organizational Culture: The culture of an organization will ultimately determine its future in the long run. Focusing on – transparency (balanced with a “need to know” approach), honesty, stress on ethical behavior and high value system, and “walking the talk”, etc – will set the tone of the organizational culture for the future. 9. Evolving Strategy and Adaptability: While it is important to have goals, vision, strategy – it is equally important to realize that while the many goals will be achieved with time; the world and ecosystem will change, the needs will evolve, etc. Hence the goals should be studied at suitable frequencies, and adaptability towards change should be kept in mind. 10. Ecosystem: Many ingredients go towards making this organization – teachers, parents, children, society, management, school infrastructure, etc. It is important to ensure that all are in sync. Hence communication at the right levels of frequency and content, as well as involving the various ingredients at the right time place and place will add to the success. The commitments, and passion, of the entire ecosystem is important. 11. Self Improvement: As the organization grows and successes come in – reflecting on what has gone well, as well as what could have been done better, is important. This will help achieve future successes in quicker time, as well as avoiding pitfalls and obstacles in the future. There are, surely, many more. The attempt here is to highlight some of the aspects which are important in a new organization which is starting to grow, and trying to reach the next (and higher) levels. Being a “start-up” in terms of the age of the organization, may have some additional aspects to consider. 1. Founding Principles Towards a Long Term Success: All of the aspects of general organizational success mentioned in the 11 points above are also relevant for a new “start-up” organization. 2. Entrepreneurial v/s Structured Organization: The philosophies of organizational behavior in a new start-up are very different from a big, established organization. In a start-up – the approach is informal, everyone does anything to make things successful, roles are ambiguous and cut across individuals, etc. In an established organization – there are systems and processes, roles and responsibilities are well defined, there are clear accountabilities, etc. It is important to find the right balance, such that the dynamism and entrepreneurial approach of a start-up, mesh as seamlessly as possible with the structured and process approach of an establishment. And the degree of the two approaches can vary with time. 3. Establishing Credibility: Being a start-up, it is very important to establish credibility – as this will determine the success for the future. Having specific goals
