> Date: Tue, 04 Apr 1995 00:32:29 EDT
> From: VNUU10B@prodigy.com (MR CHARLES B FLEETHAM)
>
> Gerry Stearnes writes in reply to inquiry on resistance:
> "Resistors need to be respected and their reasons understood
> prior to the decision to remove them. The reasons for
> perceived resistance may provide much needed insights to the
> nature of the change you/we are trying to create."
>
> I agree completely. I consider even identifying people as
> resistors as a very serious move - one taken only after the
> person's behavior is obvious to much of the community. I
> have watched too many people get labeled and hurt.
>
<<< some stuff deleted here >>>
>
> Charlie Fleetham
> Southfield, MI
>
> From: VNUU10B@prodigy.com (MR CHARLES B FLEETHAM)
>
When people get hurt as a result of being labeled as resistors,
the whole organization in general, and its learning process suffers too.
THere are resistors, and then there are resistors. In my previous job,
the School of Business decided to go for AACSB accreditation (for our
friends that may not it, AACSB is the national accrediting board for
schools of business in the U.S.). I opposed this move for several
reasons, the most improtant of which (according to me) was that the AACSB
just forces schools to fit a mold, with not regard for the uniqueness of
the institution, the "customers served", etc. Although, they talk about
continuous improvement, they "don't know the lirics" (borrowing the
expression used by another member of this list). Well, I was considered a
major problem as a result of that. The school I am at roght now is doing
something similar, but they started on this road before I gitu here.
Well, we might get to confirm what I was saying about being Boxed in a
Model, and not meeting the real needs of your constituency. Fortunately,
this is a private university and we feel the pain caused by this type of
mistake faster than a public one. We might find out very soon that having
accreditation from AACSB has no connection with having responsive,
quality, current programs that meet the "REAL" needs of the people we
serve.
Well, trying to convey this message in an environment where most people
perceived getting accredited as a synonimous of delivering quality was a
tough task. I failed misserably. I think that the reaction of most of
the rest of the faculty was very close to the groupthink response (Janis).
I agree in that resistors may be acting on fear only, but some of them may
be acting on information that might be reliable and valid. This is worth
of any extra effort made to find out "what" keeps poeple from accepting a
particular change.
Ivan,
***************************************************************
R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515
Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412
International Business Programs
Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________
Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu
Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu
<<<<< ---------------- >>>>>
"Las naciones marchan hacia el termino de su grandeza, con
el mismo paso que camina su educacion." "The nations march
toward their greatness at the same pace as their educational
systems evolve." Simon Bolivar
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