Focus on Leadership
PHASE I and IIExploring the Future of Honor Societies in FCS/Human SciencesDorothy I. Mitstifer and Barbara McFall© Copyright 2000 by Kappa Omicron Nu |
Overview
This search for the future of honor societies in FCS/Human Sciences implies that we celebrate the contributions of honor societies in our field and that we call on ourselves to do more, and to do it better. If we have done well, why should we change? One challenge is a concern that some of our members see honor societies as unresponsive to their needs. Another challenge is that society has problems, and our field has specializations. How do we ensure that the problems of members and society are addressed within the context of our specializations?
In the interest of extending strategic thinking to the university sector, Kappa Omicron Nu decided to engage a national conversation about the appropriate role of honor societies within the future of the profession. Another interest was to conduct follow-up to the Summit (FCS in Higher Education: An Open Summit on the Future). The following issues that drew passion at the Summit have implications for the honor society movement:
- Promoting the need for highly respected scholarship and research.
- Developing a thinking and learning environment for continuous development.
- Exploring the role of research in the undergraduate experience.
- Determining how to structure and support leaderships opportunities.
Therefore, as a starting point, KON wished to draw upon the expertise and knowledge of a wide range of people and organizational viewpoints in order to develop as many varied and diverse perspectives about the future as possible.
Description of the Project
This project is an initiative to survey the higher education and association populations, which have interests in the future of honor societies. The population selected for the survey consists of leaders from various organizations related to the specializations in the fieldAAFCS, ADA, SNE, NCFR, ITAA, etc.and a variety of faculty and administrators from small, state, and land-grant universities. Respondents were asked to reply to questions related to purposes, factors (key variables), forces (drivers), and trends in the forces that will have an effect on the future. Respondents either replied by e-mail or were interviewed by telephone.
Kappa Omicron Nu hired an East Lansing consulting firmGrowth Management Consultingto summarize the data, conduct the project, and give a report at the Joint KON/PhiU luncheon in Seattle. The consultantsEric Craymer and Michael Goreeconducted an abbreviated scenario analysis, using the survey data to develop a matrix of critical scenario driversthose with high impact but the least certainty of outcome. Table 1 displays the survey data of factors, forces, and trends and indicates the critical scenario drivers. The data were categorized for ease of review.
Table 1. Analysis of the Survey (Critical Scenario Drivers Highlighted) |
||||||||||
MembersServe the Developmental Needs1. Identify needs.
2. Choose target market.3. Address needs.4. Measure success.UniversitiesSupport and Mentorship
Honor Society Organizational Mission and StructureUniqueness1. Mission
2. Structure
Family and Consumer SciencesHistorical and Restructuring Issues
Society-at-largeValues and the Nature of the Human and Physical Environment1. Individuals2. Family
3. Various publics
Academic
Professional
Societal
Organizational
|
The respondents are described in Tables 2, 3, and 4.
Table 2. Survey RespondentsInstitutional Chapter Affiliation |
Percent |
KON/PhiU chapters |
31 |
KON chapters |
31 |
PhiU chapters |
30 |
Non-member/no chapter |
4 |
KON member/no chapter |
4 |
N=42
Table 3. Survey RespondentsProfessional Role |
Percent |
Administrators |
57 |
Faculty |
36 |
Neither |
7 |
N=42
Table 4. Survey RespondentsUniversity Description |
Percent |
Small, Private University |
7 |
State University |
31 |
Land-Grant University |
62 |
N=42
Discussion
The critical scenario drivers provide a platform to launch further conversation among honor society leaders and members to determine possible endstates that could inform the future direction of honor societies in FCS/Human Sciences. The underlying philosophy of this learning process is that imagining a future is a prelude to creating one. Scenario Analysis is an open-ended and forward-looking search for patterns that might emerge in an industry/field. It is a method for considering what could be instead of what has been. Scenario Analysis creates potential futures based on current trends and forces as a means to reduce risk and uncertainty. This process is a way to practice, anticipate, and prepare for tomorrows challenges today (Craymer, 1999).
Like the Kellogg Commissions current work in engagement (NASULGC, 1999), honor societies in FCS/Human Sciences can become engaged in responding more productively to not only the needs of members but to the academic arena we represent. Borrowing from the Kellogg Commissions common themes of engaged institutions, the following notions provide a set of guiding characteristics to inform change in honor societies in FCS/Human Sciences.
- A clear commitment to the basic idea of engagement.
- Strong support for infusing engagement into the mission and program.
- Remarkable diversity in approaches and efforts.
- The importance of defining community.
- The critical role of leadership (engagement will not develop by itself)
- Funding as a continuing issue.
- Accountability lodged in the right place.
The next step (of this project) in exploring the future of honor societies was a presentation by the project consultants at the KON/PhiU Joint Luncheon during the AAFCS Meeting in Seattle, June 27, 1999. The leaders and members had an opportunity to discuss the survey findings and give input during the presentation as well as during scheduled meetings with the consultants later in the day.
Phase II
Phase II of the project is the AAFCS PreConference, KONs Impact on the future of Leadership Development, at the Hilton Chicago & Towers Hotel, Friday, June 23,2000. This conference will use scenario analysis, a tool for learning about and preparing for an uncertain future, to consider the ways that KON can positively impact the future of leadership development. Input from the survey conducted by KON will be used to develop multiple pictures of that future, which will then be used to create future-based strategies.
In todays rapid and drastic change environment there are many very different, equally plausible ways that the future may develop. The scenario analysis process is designed to reduce the risk that the future catches us unaware of opportunities or challenges. One of the ways that Scenario Analysis breaks out of traditional thinking about the future is to include as many varied and diverse perspectives as possible. Drawing upon the expertise and knowledge of a wide range of people, it overcomes groupthink. Therefore this conference will involve various stakeholder groups in uncovering, exploring, and planning for new initiatives to strengthen the contributions of Kappa Omicron Nu to professional education, especially leadership development.
The firm of Growth Strategies Consulting will facilitate the interactive process, and selected current and past board members and Leadership Academy Fellows will serve as small group leaders. An Interactive Futuring Session has been developed as an electronic alternate for participation. On-line participation can be accessed through www.kon.org/news.html.
References
Craymer, E. (1999). Scenario analysis Learning from the future. East Lansing, MI: Growth Management Consulting.
NASULGC (1999, February). Returning to our roots: The engaged institution. Washington, DC: Author.