Transcript Fullerton College Environmental Scan

Fullerton College
Environmental Scan
Kenneth A. Meehan, Ph.D.
Director of Research
September 25, 2006
What is Environmental Scanning
Environmental scanning as a definable subject
appears to have been around since the late 60s
but it doesn't seem to have gained a lot of
traction until the 80s to refer to the process of
gathering and evaluating information from the
external environment.
What is Environmental Scanning
The terminology and methodology of environmental
scanning are from the strategic planning literature.
The techniques included are consistent with current
total quality management and "learning organization"
approaches. Strategic planning strives to identify the
best fit between an organization and its external
environment and is conducted assuming the need for
continuous improvement of programs.
What is Environmental Scanning
External scanning is defined as the acquisition,
analysis, and use of information about events,
trends, and relationships in an organization's
external environment, the future knowledge of
which would assist management in planning
the organization's future course of action. The
external environment of an organization
includes all outside factors that can affect the
performance or survival of the organization.
What is Environmental Scanning
Environmental scanning is the internal
communication of external information about
issues that may potentially influence an
organization's decision-making process.
Environmental scanning focuses on the
identification of emerging issues, situations,
and potential pitfalls that may affect an
organization's future.
What is Environmental Scanning
The information gathered, including the events,
trends, and relationships that are external to an
organization, is provided to key managers
within the organization and is used to guide
management in future plans. It is used to
evaluate an organization's strengths and
weaknesses in response to external threats and
opportunities.
What is Environmental Scanning
In essence, environmental scanning is a method for
identifying, collecting, and translating information
about external influences into useful plans and
decisions.
Kendra S. Albright, "Environmental Scanning: Radar
for Success", Information Management Journal 38
(3), May/June 2004: p. 38
What is Environmental Scanning
Environmental scanning is not a fancy name for crystalball gazing--there's no assuption that a scan in
anyway foretells the future. A good scan will identify
trends not fads but it isn't intended to be The Future.
It is meant to identify some issues which are likely to
have an impact on your organization. And it isn't a
means to an end. A scan should be only one part of a
larger strategic planning process--that's the "must lead
to action" piece.
Objectives of Environmental Scanning
• Detecting scientific, technical, economic, social, and
•
•
•
political trends and events important to the institution,
Defining the potential threats, opportunities, or
changes for the institution implied by those trends
and events,
Promoting a future orientation in the thinking of
management and staff, and
Alerting management and staff to trends that are
converging, diverging, speeding up, slowing down, or
interacting.
Demographic Information
• Population growth of about 1% annually in
Fullerton College community
• Population growth projection of about 12%
through 2030
• About 100,000 new residents in Fullerton
College community
Demographic Information
• Significant changes in Race/Ethnicity
composition of FC community
• Hispanic plurality in Orange County by 2020
• Hispanic majority in Orange County by 2040
• Changes reflected in FC enrollment
Demographic Information
• Significant changes in Race/Ethnicity
composition of FC community
• Hispanic plurality in Orange County by 2020
• Hispanic majority in Orange County by 2040
• Changes reflected in FC enrollment
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Fall
1996
Fall
1997
Fall
1998
Fall
1999
Fall
2000
Hispanic
Fall
2001
Fall
2002
White
Fall
2003
Fall
2004
Fall
2005
Educational Information
• Steady increase in Orange County K-12
enrollment through 2003
• Slight decrease in Orange County K-12
enrollment since 2004
• Overall increase in feeder high school district
enrollment through current year
• Decrease in Fullerton high school district in
2005
Educational Information
• Significant numbers of students with free or
•
•
•
•
•
reduced lunch at Anaheim and Katella high
schools
English language learners
First generation college goers
Majority not UC/CSU eligible
Significant percentage not English proficient
Most not math proficient
Educational Information
• Fullerton College going rate of about 20%
from major feeder high school districts
• Significant numbers of students from major
feeder high schools attend other community
colleges
• Approximately 20% of students from major
feeder high schools attend UC or CSU directly
from high school
Economic Information
• Civilian labor force declined in Orange County
•
•
•
•
and Fullerton College cities in 2006
Unemployment has dropped steadily since
2003
Decline in Manufacturing industries
Growth in Construction and Finance
Professional and Business Service with most
employees
Economic Information
• More jobs require BA/BS
• Major growth in teaching, computer software
engineers – both applications and systems
• Major growth in massage therapy, desktop
publishing, real estate appraisers, industrial
engineering
Political Information
•
•
•
•
•
•
Accountability
Accreditation
Budget
Enrollment Growth
Facilities Planning
Distance Learning
Some references
http://www.rpgroup.org/Projects/CCC-StrategicPlan/EvScanCCCStrategicPln-RPCSS-07-05.pdf
http://www.ocair.org/files/Presentations/onlinepapers/Willard.PDF
http://horizon.unc.edu/courses/papers/enviroscan/default.html
http://www.ericdigests.org/1992-5/economic.htm
Questions and Comments
Ken Meehan
[email protected]
992-7040
research.fullcoll.edu