Systems Thinking to Assist Schools Form a Firm Financial Foundation
Systems Thinking for Education
So many faith-based continue to lament the fact that there’s so much work to be done, personnel are being stretched to their limits, and it seems that more and more efforts only result in precariously stable or continuously declining enrollment. If that sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s a law of physics. Just like […]
It’s amazing what you find on the Internet. For instance, I found a great article on systems thinking as it applies to education. As I was reading it, I said to myself, “Yes! Exactly!” I thought the article was groundbreaking, since it speaks to the need for systemic change rather than gradual linear change. To […]
Even though the holiday and holy day season is over, there are probably still significant stressers you’re experiencing. Sad to say, it’s part of our culture today! I follow a blog by Greg McKeown, a writer for the Harvard Business Review. He has some very insightful comments, especially for a young man, which have been […]
As a year ends, or a new one begins, it’s not uncommon for sales team members to go through an exercise of analyzing their respective territories and creating a sales plan for the coming fiscal year. It’s something sales professionals are accustomed to. Even if they work in an industry where it is difficult to […]
A few summers ago, I read “The Challenger Sale,” by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson. It’s based on the premise that the most successful professionals are not those that serve their customers, but who challenge their customers to think differently. As a former teacher, I totally agree. Why? It’s how teachers get the most from their […]
I usually recommend books when the holiday shopping season gets underway so those who enjoy reading can pick them up as gifts for themselves, or can share the suggestions with others when their asked for gift ideas. One that has had a profound influence on me (in addition to other titles like “Essentialism: The Disciplined […]
Some of the hundreds of the faith-based and private schools I visit each year invariably tell me, “We’re in trouble,” which usually means financial difficulties may cause them to merge with another school or close their doors. When closure happens, it leaves many “holes” – in the lives of the students who have made friends […]
It’s no secret that in faith-based schools, there have been many discussions about the school’s “nature.” Is it a business, or is it a ministry? Some writers and school leaders have claimed that in Christian and Catholic schools, there should be no argument, since it’s both a business AND a school. There should be no […]
Before starting back into articles that deal with systems thinking, a contact at a school recently asked why I call my approach to systems thinking “Tetrahedronics.” I thought it would be helpful to explain where this idea came from, as it also explains why SchoolAdvancement’s logo is essentially a tetrahedron. A tetrahedron is commonly known […]
Several years ago, I attended a regional meeting of schools that are members of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and picked up a brochure that described the 5 Essential Elements of an Effective Christian School. I post them here not just to encourage you to evaluate your faith-based school against these benchmarks, but […]