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Delivering superior performance over the long haul

Article taken from College of Business Reports, Winter 2008

by Mohammed Khayum

Graduates will make a difference
in the communities they touch

At the University of Southern Indiana’s second annual Winter Commencement, 134 degrees—123 undergraduate degrees, eight M.B.A. degrees, and three post-baccalaureate certificates—were awarded to College of Business students. This accounted for almost 27 percent of the total number of USI graduates in fall 2007.   Based on a recent survey of graduates, just over 70 percent of these
graduates are likely to be employed within a 60-mile radius of the
University.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and wish them success in their future endeavors, we recognize that with increasing global connectedness and competitiveness they will face tremendous challenges and have distinctive opportunities to make a difference to the communities they touch. It is in this context that graduates can benefit from the insights provided by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great: Why some companies make the leap…and others don’t, about delivering superior performance and making a distinctive impact over a long period of time.

According to Collins, each of us can benefit by conducting the following“three circles” exercise. On a piece of paper, draw three interlocking circles. In the first circle, answer the question, “What am I really passionate about?” In the second, answer “What am I really good at?” and in the third, answer “What can I contribute that is of value to society that people will pay for me to do?”

Next, analyze the overlap in your answers, that is, the area resulting from the intersection of the three circles, to discover a clear and simple way to produce the best longterm results. The same exercise can be conducted by businesses and social sector organizations where the only difference is in the question in the third circle.   For businesses the third circle question is, “What best drives our economic engine?” and for social sector organizations the third circle question is, “What best drives our resource engine?”

Based on his extensive research and feedback from numerous individuals, Collins contends that a major difference between the good and the great organizations is that the great ones have discovered that clear, simple operational concept which guides their choices and creates a culture of discipline—in thought and action— amid tremendous change and the turbulence surrounding intensifying global competition.

This issue of the College of Business Reports highlights what past and current students are passionate about, what they are good at, and some of the drivers of the college’s resource engine:

• The unparalleled success of the accounting team in the Indiana CPA Society Case Study Competition exemplifies a pursuit of excellence. Their winning report was on business valuation and succession planning.
• The deep interest and passion that some students have shown for identifying business opportunities, creating economic value, and finding ways to capture that value (pages 3 and 5).
• The enduring and distinctive performance of our graduates (pages 1 and 6–8).
• The ongoing support from our community as an important aspect of the college’s resource engine as we stay focused on fulfilling our mission.

Your thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.