Brand Findings

[PlayerRep]

Let’s not forget that Engstrom likely forced Haslam to make a bad football hire resulting from the negative political climate about Bobby at the time.

I always wondered what Engstrom's role was in this hire, at least in not hiring Hauck. I suspect that Haslam and Hauck may have been on the same page, or close to it. But I don't know.

 

[PlayerRep]

Don’t think he was the last choice available. He was the first choice of the previous leadership and the inept BOR went along with it.
Sadly, Engstrom is still on the UM payroll.

As I remember it, the other candidates that were to be brought in for interviews dropped out either before, or shortly after interviewing. However, I seem to mis-remember quite a bit these days.

You may both be right. Grizpack is right, but I had also heard early on that Engstrom was a leading candidate.

 

[PlayerRep]

They really needed to pay consultants to identify these problems?

And the people responsible for "Let's go there" should all be fired.

Well, no, I'm sure they didn't need to pay consultants to identify the problems, but having those things pointed out by an independent third party with no dog in the fight increases the likelihood that the University can move forward with making the changes. The campus culture is and has been one of self-preservation and competition for long enough that if the observations and recommendations had only been made internally, it would have been seen only as a power play or some such nonsense. Branding is important not only to external marketing, but also to organizational vision. If they want to get back on course, it's critical that the culture supports the strategy.

I'm with you on the "Let's go there" slogan. Horrible.
Might as well have chosen something like "Meh, it could be worse."

I agree that consultants can both identify problems and solutions, and validate internal thinking on problems and solutions. The report can also become a roadmap for the leadership to make decisions, and provide more ammunition and cover for the leadership, so that it doesn't look like the leadership is just making up stuff or is off base.

 

[CatGrad-UMGradStu]

This process the young Major is going through fascinates me in that, by and large, he is using the Five Paragraph Operations Order for Military Operations format to guide his first month's tenure.

This report does not clearly define the situation. I watched one disgruntled faculty member in a great school of education cause that school to lose their NCATE Accredidation for one year. The enemies of this school are internal and it is going to take great managers and administrators to accomplish this young leader's vision for this school. Those enemies need purged and replaced with friendly faculty. Good managers are not afraid to document performance. Great managers will ensure the leaders vision is understood and the other four paragraphs are followed.

 

[SoldierGriz]

Majestic...
... Mountains
... Moments
... Minds
Montana.

 

[Art Spooner]

Don’t think he was the last choice available. He was the first choice of the previous leadership and the inept BOR went along with it.
Sadly, Engstrom is still on the UM payroll.

As I remember it, the other candidates that were to be brought in for interviews dropped out either before, or shortly after interviewing. However, I seem to mis-remember quite a bit these days.

UM has a history of doing national searches and amazingly finding the best possible candidate right down the hall. Happened over and over. It’s always been a “let’s hire the person that is going to be the least threat to me having to work harder or work differently or God forbid, hold me accountable”. I had a WSU business professor tell me back in 1989 he thought he was a finalist for the Business school Dean at UM until it became apparent they had already chosen their guy and his interview was simply dotting the i’s. This stuff goes back a long time. Engstrom wasn’t the first. UM is a model of what happens when you become complacent, arrogant and lazy. Previous leadership team was in total denial that what had worked in the past was no longer working. When challenged with what was happening with the surge in Bozeman, still were in denial. Then when challenges became life threatening for UM, they all “retired” or better described, jumped like rats off a sinking ship. Thank God we have a new leader that as the ability to fix this and I truly believe Bodnar does. Huge concern is the informations Systems upgrades that have been ignored for years that are finally being recognized publicly. Shameful how it has been ignored. And I believe 25 years behind is being kind from what I’ve been told. Where is the money coming from to pay for them?

 

[Butte5518]

I guess "We Used to be a good football school" no longer cuts it.....

 

[Ringneck]

They really needed to pay consultants to identify these problems?

And the people responsible for "Let's go there" should all be fired.

Well, no, I'm sure they didn't need to pay consultants to identify the problems, but having those things pointed out by an independent third party with no dog in the fight increases the likelihood that the University can move forward with making the changes. The campus culture is and has been one of self-preservation and competition for long enough that if the observations and recommendations had only been made internally, it would have been seen only as a power play or some such nonsense. Branding is important not only to external marketing, but also to organizational vision. If they want to get back on course, it's critical that the culture supports the strategy.

I'm with you on the "Let's go there" slogan. Horrible.
Might as well have chosen something like "Meh, it could be worse."

I agree that consultants can both identify problems and solutions, and validate internal thinking on problems and solutions. The report can also become a roadmap for the leadership to make decisions, and provide more ammunition and cover for the leadership, so that it doesn't look like the leadership is just making up stuff or is off base.

Exactly. Independent consultants also often reveal that leadership's analysis of a situation is off base. So whether they confirm or refute internal findings, there is a benefit to the process. Organizations will almost always naturally drift toward myopia, especially if they've experienced a some success doing things a particular way. But what got you here won't get you there.

Anyway, I'm hopeful and optimistic for the University's future. I hope it can get it of its own way.

 

[Ringneck]

They really needed to pay consultants to identify these problems?

And the people responsible for "Let's go there" should all be fired.

Well, no, I'm sure they didn't need to pay consultants to identify the problems, but having those things pointed out by an independent third party with no dog in the fight increases the likelihood that the University can move forward with making the changes. The campus culture is and has been one of self-preservation and competition for long enough that if the observations and recommendations had only been made internally, it would have been seen only as a power play or some such nonsense. Branding is important not only to external marketing, but also to organizational vision. If they want to get back on course, it's critical that the culture supports the strategy.

I'm with you on the "Let's go there" slogan. Horrible.
Might as well have chosen something like "Meh, it could be worse."

I agree. It sounds like a dare.

It's like Ford saying "Let's drive that". It's lazy, vague, and instantly turns off interested buyers.

Lazy and vague is a perfect description.

 

[Spanky]

Many, if not most, would agree that Engstrom has been bad for UM.
Can anyone explain why he is on the payroll as a professor? Further, did he receive a sizable bonus? If this is true, can someone name the amount and the individual that gave the approval?

 

[mcg]

Many, if not most, would agree that Engstrom has been bad for UM.
Can anyone explain why he is on the payroll as a professor? Further, did he receive a sizable bonus? If this is true, can someone name the amount and the individual that gave the approval?

I think the answer is that he has tenure.

 

[SoldierGriz]

I believe he was give a $70k bonus in 2016...

I would search for the missoulian article, but I'm afraid my hand might blow up in the process. No clicks for them...

 

[Ursa Major]

Many, if not most, would agree that Engstrom has been bad for UM.
Can anyone explain why he is on the payroll as a professor? Further, did he receive a sizable bonus? If this is true, can someone name the amount and the individual that gave the approval?

Is this what I have to look forward to in retirement? Spending my days searching for something to make me angry?

 

[Ursa Major]

Majestic...
... Mountains
... Moments
... Minds
Montana.

I believe the original poster may see your list as incomplete.

 

[SoldierGriz]

Majestic...
... Mountains
... Moments
... Minds
Montana.

I believe the original poster may see your list as incomplete.

...and bgbigdogs? Could work.

 

[Ursa Major]

Majestic...
... Mountains
... Moments
... Minds
Montana.

I believe the original poster may see your list as incomplete.

...and bgbigdogs? Could work.

Perhaps, that might be a military slang term I'm unfamiliar with,Soldier?

 

[bgbigdog]

Majestic...
... Mountains
... Moments
... Minds
Montana.

I believe the original poster may see your list as incomplete.

...and bgbigdogs? Could work.

Perhaps, that might be a military slang term I'm unfamiliar with,Soldier?

Never gets old. Thank you. :clap:

 

[argh!]

Many, if not most, would agree that Engstrom has been bad for UM.
Can anyone explain why he is on the payroll as a professor? Further, did he receive a sizable bonus? If this is true, can someone name the amount and the individual that gave the approval?

Is this what I have to look forward to in retirement? Spending my days searching for something to make me angry?

pretty sure ol' spank doesn't need to search. when he isn't living in the past, he is whining about it.

 

[MTGRZ]

Like the "findings' or not, just the fact that there this happened is a good thing. Have to start somewhere. Personally I'd like to see a new main logo, new commercials, and a new slogan(s). We desperately need help in the public image area; this would be a start.

 

[Paytonlives]

Engstrom was "King" George Dennison's boy...

The fall started with King George... first a trickle that lead to a waterfall.