What is our BHAG?
We’ve been discussing a slogan for our technology initiative.
On the blog Dangerously Irrelevant, I read this excellent comment about that, which makes me think we should work on this idea.
In their acclaimed book, Built to Last, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras note that visionary companies set Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs), bold mission statements that act as powerful mechanisms to stimulate corporate progress. BHAGs are clear, compelling, serve as unifying focal points of effort, have clear finish lines, and often create immense team spirit.
I think to be effective in a school–it needs to be simple, clear and something that is catchy for both students and teachers, while expressing the goals.
Any ideas?
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/7608203
February 11, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
I like the idea that our mission statement should stimulate progress – it should be something that clearly states where we hope the Technology Initiative is going. Of course, we’ve included “progressive thinking” in our goals, because it’s impossible to say exactly what we’re going to do – rather, we’re talking about continuing innovation.
At our last meeting, I believe we discussed the Technology Initiative to be presented to the Campus Leadership Team this Thursday. Our current working “mission statement” is “Connect, Collaborate, Create.” It is modeled after the three R’s, “Rigor, Relevance, Relationships.”
However, it’s not quite so catchy, I think, as it could be. I like how we’ve named our initiative “WHS 2.1″ – it’s a hip name, because it plays off a current phenomenon that has everyone talking. I hope our slogan can be like that – memorable!