Here is a famous quote attributed to Henry Ford:
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” – Henry Ford
There is scant evidence Ford ever said those words, and some debate whether this even is a correct depiction of groundbreaking innovation.
However, what is undeniable is consumers at that time wanted faster transportation. Similarly, consumers of a decade ago may not have known they needed an iPhone, but they knew they needed better ways to communicate and share inf information (thanks, Steve Jobs!).
Higher education leaders face their “Model T” moment right now. They know the traditional approaches and siloed data are not sustainable. They know they have limited visibility across the market and student lifecycle. They know they need to evolve strategically while being agile enough to adapt now. And they know they need to do all of this based on facts, not anecdotes.
As a leader, you know this too. As the winter break approaches and you reflect on how to enter 2022 you have two options:
- Continue using traditional tools and datasets hoping for the best.
- Know the market and your place within it, day-by-day, so that you make the best decisions possible to achieve your goals.
So, does higher ed need “faster horses” or a “Model T”? On its face, of course, it is neither, but the analogy and moment are real. Higher ed leaders with whom we speak and serve need a way to know how students are behaving each day, how they are behaving towards your institution (and via which channels), and how all that compares to schools of comparable size, scope, and mission.
University and enrollment leaders need better context and understanding to make better decisions so that your institution will thrive in the years ahead. Higher education’s “Model T” moment is here … it is called MARKETview.