Spring 2010 Management Symposium

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Session: Leadership, Management, and Professional Development Strategies

Speaker: Allan Chen, Santa Clara University School of Law

Title: MBAs and EDUs - Applying For-Profit Strategies to University Operations and Planning

Many people see the world of academia as separate from that of business. There is already a growing debate about the applicability of for-profit business methods in the non-profit world. Revenue, profits, value proposition and sustainability are not part of the lexicon of non-profit organizations. Bringing these tools and ideas to academia would seem just as controversial. Yet many of the skills and strategies utilized in for-profit marketing, finance, management, and operations are extremely relevant to being an effective leader in academia. In fact, understanding these principles and applying them to our academic environments can lead to far more efficient use of our budgets while delivering superior value to students, faculty, and staff. This framework can lead to innovative strategic approaches to accomplishing our common goals. This presentation will take case studies about selling razors in Indonesia, choosing the right markets for the Fashion Channel, decreasing wait times at ATMs and even how hedge funds minimize risk to demonstrate what we, as leaders and managers in academia, can learn and utilize. Many of the lessons from these cases, when examined more objectively, can make for a more efficient organization with a better sense of identity and goals. This will be an interactive session, and feel free to not only present new ideas but also to challenge the ones put forth.