COPING WITH CRISIS-Resilience and smarter systems may be the way to survive and thrive

Weekend observations

At the end of cycling class Monday morning, I talked with two men who have children of college age. They were bemoaning the fact that there aren’t going to be jobs for their children. We’d had a fabulous 90-minute workout, our endorphins had kicked in, we felt a positive sense of camaraderie, and yet we ended on a sad note about the economy. (It was good to be able to say that at least there are jobs in public health.) Liam O’Fallon, our fabulous instructor, commented on our downbeat conversation. It made me realize how easy it is to fall into talk about all that is wrong now. There is a lot wrong, and there are national and individual tragedies upon us. But still, there is a lot that’s good. And we must keep looking for the high notes without burying our heads in the sand.

Last night, my husband and I went out to dinner with our friends Ilene and Chuck. It was the first time my husband and I had been to dinner together in months. After about an hour or so of catching up with them on all sorts of topics, I looked around and realized, “This place is packed. Some people are still going out to eat, enjoying one another, and that’s a good thing.” Glasshalfull is a very smart restaurant. It serves small plates-which are smaller (obviously) and less expensive than large plates, the American too large plates that not only cost more, but as Barry Popkin, PhD, Carla Smith Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition; professor, Nutrition and director, Interdisciplinary Obesity Center, has shown in The World is Fat, also are contributing to our national obesity epidemic. (Of course, I am not attributing the problem to this restaurant’s large plates but to the American tradition of serving too much food and our tendency to eat too much food.) A good outcome of the economic crisis would be a return to smaller plates, healthier food, more local produce, more emphasis on the social aspect of meals.

Resilience and recovery

I read several recent speeches in Vital Speeches. The common theme, irrespective of the author’s affiliation or political orientation was resilience and how to create it-in the country, world and in our own organizations. Resilience is about the ability to adapt to a current situation and to emerge stronger and with one’s optimism and positive attitude and actions intact. If we can find ways to work smarter, to really focus on our core mission and values and to think inventively, we will emerge stronger.

UNC-Chapel Hill and our School are resilient. We have been through difficult times; we are not bloated organizations in which people are used to being indulged. We have a history of collaboration and cooperation. We care about the mission, and we are devoted to a higher cause. That gives people a reason to work together and come together to find shared solutions. It is a difficult time. There is no question about it. But in this School, the chairs and I have been really impressed by the willingness of faculty and others to sacrifice.

Late last week, Chancellor Thorp sent a very positive message to the campus. Among other things, he mentioned that our vice-chancellors have offered to take salary cuts and furloughs if these strategies will save jobs. I feel the same way and have told Chancellor Thorp, not only that I am gratified by his leadership and communications, but that I and at least my fellow deans with whom I have spoken are willing to make these commitments as well. We will come out of this crisis. I want to be sure that now, and in the future, we are prepared to do our jobs-to educate our students, conduct cutting-edge research and participate in engaged-scholarship across North Carolina and beyond. Read Chancellor Thorp’s message, or visit his blog.

In this School, Charlotte Nunez-Wolff, EdD, associate dean for business and finance and her team, Dave Potenziani, PhD, senior associate dean, department chairs, heads of other units, and business managers all have been working pretty much non-stop to deal with the budget crisis, respond to requests for information, adapt to new policies, respond to emergency requests and so much more.

Reducing our staff is the least desirable way to manage the budget crisis, and we are doing everything we can avoid it. We will have to be very inventive and think across the organization in new ways. How can we share services and be more efficient? If someone leaves, what is the best way to replace them? Are there courses or programs that have too few students or enrollees to be viable in a distressed economy?  Are we doing things that don’t fit the needs of 21^st century students? These are not questions we like to ask, but they are questions we must ask. If we have fewer resources, we cannot do everything we did before and prepare for the future.

I was very impressed by what Sam Palmisano, chairman, president and CEO, IBM Corporation, said in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, November 2008. He talked about how technology is changing lives, and how the world is not just getter flatter but more inter-connected and smarter. He said the thing that holds the most potential for a better world is that the planet is getting smarter. He also identified several global problems that are right in our domain-e.g., an antiquated health care system and water systems drying up across the world. His premise is that if we can develop smarter systems that emerge from collaborative leadership across sectors, we will not merely adapt; we will thrive. He ended on an upbeat but not unrealistic note: “The world now beckoning us is one of enormous promise. And I believe it is one that we can build-if we open our minds and let ourselves think about all that a smarter planet could be.” We should start by applying that advice within our School.

Men’s basketball

I was so disappointed in the game Saturday. I just could not believe we lost when we were comfortably ahead for a while. I love listening to Coach Williams in the post-game analysis. We could all learn from his ability to critique his own behavior. Of course, he also did not hesitate to critique the team as well. On to Georgia Tech next Saturday. We should win that one!

It’s a hard time but we are going to be ok-it’s just going to take a while to get there. Happy Monday. Barbara