Back to the future

Directors’ Conference, April 2013

What about our ‘vision’ and ‘mission’?

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What about our ‘vision’ and ‘mission’ statements?

Vision:To be a leader in language education sector in the provision and enhancement of support services for affiliated schools To set and maintain benchmark quality standards in language training. To foster financial strength and sustainable growth of shareholders’ schools.  To work with our members to make the IH brand synonymous with leadership and best practice within the sector. To promote intercultural communication and understanding by facilitating the provision of high quality language related services at a global level.

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•Who are they for?•Are they clear?

•Are they inspiring or do they make you think: “True, but who cares??”

What about our ‘vision’ and ‘mission’ statements?

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“Companies that enjoy enduring success have core values and a core purpose that remain

fixed while their business strategies and practices endlessly adapt to a changing world.”

Collins, J.C. & Porras, J.I.

Why does IH need a ‘core ideology’?

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• International House World Organisation Ltd?• International House Trust?

• International House Timbuktu?

• or just “International House”?• .

A ‘core ideology’ for whom?

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A well-conceived vision consists of two major components:

1.Core ideology

2.Envisioned future

How do we come up with a ‘visionary’ vision?

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What does core purpose look like?

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Core purpose is the organisation’s reason for being.An effective purpose reflects people’s idealistic motivations for doing a company’s work. It doesn’t just describe the organisation’s output or target customers; it captures the soul of the organisation. You cannot fulfil a purpose; it is like a guiding star on the horizon – forever pursued but never reached.

Why is the core purpose of an organisation important?

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Operating practices, cultural norms, business strategies and processes are in constant flux, but the spirit of International House does not

change.

If we know what we CANNOT change, we understand better what we CAN change and

our purpose helps us align our actions.

Why is the core purpose of ‘International House’ important?

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HP: To make technical contributions for the advancement and welfare of humanity;

Nike: To experience the emotion of competition, winning, and crushing competitors;

Wal-Mart: To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same things as rich people;

Disney: To make people happy

Some examples of core purposes:

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A 10 – 30 year audacious goal (a BHAG!)

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Vivid descriptions of what it will be like to

achieve the goal

A durable vision – built to last – and not needing revision with every business fad or change of leadership

Envisioned future

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What is a BHAG?

a Big Hairy Audacious Goal

i.e. a very ambitious, clearly articulated

plan that revs up the whole organisation

Envisioned future

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• Set well into the future;• Require thinking beyond the current

capabilities of the organisation and environment;

• Are not sure bets;• Demand extraordinary effort and a little luck!

BHAGs

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Sony in the 1950s:BHAG: To become the company most known for changing the worldwide poor-quality image of Japanese products.Description: Fifty years from now our brand name will be as well known as any in the world… and will signify innovation and quality… “Made in Japan” will mean something fine, not something shoddy.

An example:

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Is it worth finding the “International House “ core ideology?

Should we start the next 60 years thinking how we can win, be the best we can be, look beyond our current competences to reach further and higher than we have before?

Can we recast our vision into an effective context for building a visionary organisation?

Is all this for us?

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“Building your company’s vision”James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porrasin “HBR 10 Must Reads on Strategy”, 2011

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