To enhance their impact, educational institutions must embrace change. Through change, the institutions are able to abandon ineffective strategies and embrace new visions that deliver them into a future defined by success. Given the important role that change plays in driving organizational growth, one is forced to wonder why many institutions are reluctant to adopt change. Another issue that is surprising is that a worrying number of the organizations which embrace change are unable to implement it effectively. In order to be successful in their adoption of change, all organizations, educational institutions in particular, should conduct a SWOT analysis. Through the analysis, the institutions are able to leverage the strengths and exploit opportunities while minimizing the effect of threats and weaknesses.
Strengths
Strengths are the competencies and resources that enable an organization to thrive. ICO has managed to become the preferred provider of education to optometrists in Canada thanks to the numerous strengths that it possesses. Its large size, long and complex history and its student population are among the institution’s key strengths. Every year, between 165 and 179 doctors graduate from the institution. As a result of the sizeable number of graduates that the institution releases into the job market, it has established itself as among the key drivers of healthcare in Canada. It has been observed with concern that Canada is grappling with a biting shortage of such medical practitioners as doctors (Islam, 2014). ICO is among the institutions that are striving to address this shortage. Owing to its continued commitment to training medical professionals, ICO has enhanced its credibility. Across the country, this institution is regarded as one that is focused on excellence.
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Weaknesses
Francis Duffy (2010) is among the scholars whose works explore the issues that cause change implementation to fail. In his text, he notes that internal bottlenecks, inefficiencies and poor leadership are some of the issues that hamper the successful implementation of change. An examination of ICO’s internal operations reveals that there are various weaknesses which have hindered the institution’s growth. Low levels of support from its alumni and graduates are among these weaknesses. For any institution to succeed, it needs the full commitment and support of its stakeholders (Schibi, 2013). ICO lacks such support. This became evident when the institution hosted a reunion in June. A meager number of graduates and alumni attended the reunion. As a matter of fact, none of those who graduated in 2013 was present for the function. Apart from low attendance, ICO also grapples with disappointingly low levels of donation from its graduates and alumni. The institution’s alumni population stands at a whopping 10,000. Despite this, only 25% of the alumni make donations. It is important to explore why those who benefited from the learning that ICO offers fail to demonstrate the expected levels of loyalty and support. Anger among students in response to the policies that the institution has adopted is among the factors to blame for the lack of adequate support from the graduates and alumni. Another weakness that is responsible for the challenges that ICO faces today is the fact that it is rather elitist and has failed to achieve inclusion and diversity. Instead of seeking to ensure that all ethnic and racial groups are represented in its leadership, the institution has developed a leadership team that is composed entirely of white males. As a result, other communities feel alienated. It is nearly impossible for any organization to serve the interests of all stakeholders if its practices and leadership do not reflect the diversity of the stakeholders.
Opportunities
The weaknesses in ICO’s operations and processes threaten its future. However, there are various opportunities that the institution can leverage to secure its growth. Reclaiming its glory by understanding and meeting the needs of new students is one of the opportunities that ICO could exploit. In the past, the institution has failed to meet student needs. For example, despite the fact that it is an invaluable resource, the institution failed to provide Wi-Fi. However, owing to protest from students, ICO installed Wi-Fi on campus and in the dorms for students who were enrolled in 2012. This example shows that the institution has the capacity to address student needs. Instead of responding to pressure, ICO needs to be proactive and anticipate needs before they arise. Assuring students that progress is being made in the implementation of agreed changes is another opportunity for growth. Whenever ICO sets out to address certain student needs, it needs to share information with students and other stakeholders regarding the progress made and the challenges that could hamper full implementation. By exploiting this opportunity, the university will be able to forestall disquiet and frustration among students.
Threats
The opportunities discussed above promise to transform ICO. However, as it exploits these opportunities, the institution should be wary of certain threats. Security concerns and the anxiety among students are among the main threats. It has been observed that security officers warn students about the dangers community. Essentially, these officers create fear among the students and present the institution as an unsafe place that is riddled with security threats. If ICO fails to address the security concerns, it risks losing the trust and confidence of students. Competition from an emerging optometry institution is another threat that could derail ICO’s progress. The new optometry institution is located in a secure suburb that is equipped with various comforts and conveniences. Whereas it is true that ICO is an established institution that enjoys credibility and trust, the university cannot afford to be complacent. Among the factors that lead organizations to ruin is the failure to understand and respond appropriately to the threat that competitors face (Ryans, 2009). If ICO is to retain its position, it needs to match the facilities, conveniences and features that the new institution offers.
In conclusion, the effectiveness and security of the Canadian healthcare system hinges on the operations of such institutions as ICO. Since its establishment, this institution has trained thousands of doctors. The success that it continues to witness is the result of its strengths. However, there are various issues that threaten to undo the organization’s growth. It’s elitist culture and failure to ensure diversity are among these issues. Furthermore, ICO has been slow to anticipate and respond to the needs of its students. For this institution to solidify its position, it should transform its culture and adopt a student-centric philosophy.
References
Duffy, F. M. (2010). Dream! Create! Sustain! Mastering the art and science of transforming
School systems. Lanham, MD: R&L Education.
Islam, N. (2014). The dilemma of physician shortage and international recruitment in Canada.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 3 (1), 29-32.
Ryans, A. (2009). Beating low cost competition: how premium brands can respond to cut-price
Rivals. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Schibi, O. (2013). Managing stakeholder expectations for project success: a knowledge
Integration framework and value focused approach. Plantation, FL: J. Ross Publishing.
