Case - Interlochen Atrs Academy
The purpose behind this thesis is to identify the future needs of Interlochen Center of the Arts, and the strategies which its management could define and implement to achieve the academy's success. Interlochen is a boarding academy of the arts located near Traverse City, Michigan. The curricula provide education for summer camp, academy and adult students.
The following requirements were identified from the academy's 2008 annual report, in which they stated several objectives deemed important by stakeholders. These included:
Additionally, 5 additional core requirements were identified from Interlochen's mission and purpose statements:
From these requirements the following strategic goals were identified to fulfill the future needs of Interlochen's students:
As the above are broad strategic goals, each can be implemented in multiple areas, however, since the objectives center around improved education and outreach the primary implementation would be most effective by focusing on the following themes.
Strategy map - ica-strategy.pdf
Partial database schema - ica-database.pdf
By studying the above mapping of how ICA's mission and purpose statements correlate to their customer needs and how those needs can be translated into enabling strategies we can find the most effective projects to undertake. Using these mappings we can determine the feasibility of developing web-based capabilities by encapsulating them within the scopes of our defined themes and measuring their effectiveness in meeting the 9 defined requirements. One course of action would be to develop video streaming capabilities to offer students, alumni, parents and art enthusiasts easier access to student events and galleries. This would provide the streaming media requirement, provide a community outreach to shut-in people, and showcase talent. However, by itself it's effect is limited. It promotes a media that can't capture the quality of productions, it doesn't attract new talent, it doesn't foster growth as artists or learers, it lacks interactivity, and it doesn't promote the academy to others outside of those in existing mailing lists.
By adding simple technologies like javascript messaging and 2 way audio the system can be leveraged to meet many more of the requirements and provide much more effectivenes for the cost. Through messaging capabilities and formal class frameworks to encourage students to discuss performances with online audince members interactivity and student growth can be added. Broad community outreach and increased brand awareness (with talented prospects) can also be realized by developing programs with elementary and middle school systems in an attempt to improve public school arts programs through 2 way video streaming, VOIP and streaming. In addition, these programs would convey ICA's uncompromising artistic and educaitonal standards.
The opportunities are limited to streaming technology and its potential for developing leadership and domestic standing. With some thought the possibilities of the program can be further defined to provide value in enhancing competition and initiative, campus life and diversity in curricula.
The following requirements were identified from the academy's 2008 annual report, in which they stated several objectives deemed important by stakeholders. These included:
- Development of brand awareness.
- Improved communication technology.
- Increased diversity.
- New and enhanced stakeholder collaboration and partnerships.
Additionally, 5 additional core requirements were identified from Interlochen's mission and purpose statements:
- Attract the most talented artists from around the world.
- Provide an environment that fosters artistic, intellectual and personal growth as artists and leaders.
- Provide uncompromising artistic and educational standards with exceptional artists and educators.
- Provide a culturally diverse learning experience.
- Provide community outreach programs to share artistic endeavors.
From these requirements the following strategic goals were identified to fulfill the future needs of Interlochen's students:
- Showcase the high standards and exceptional talent of faculty and students.
- Engage and interact with the audience members during academic performances.
- Provide and encourage access to people and organizations who don’t normally interact with ICA.
- Provide streaming media and rich content to stakeholders through a variety of media.
- Enhance communications between faculty, students, and audiences.
- Provide and encourage access to performers, students, and art enthusiasts from around the world.
As the above are broad strategic goals, each can be implemented in multiple areas, however, since the objectives center around improved education and outreach the primary implementation would be most effective by focusing on the following themes.
- Enhancing healthy competition, initiative and leadership.
- Enhancing campus life.
- Enhancing domestic and international standing.
- Enhancing diversity in curricula and performances.
- Inspiring students to develop full potential.
Strategy map - ica-strategy.pdf
Partial database schema - ica-database.pdf
By studying the above mapping of how ICA's mission and purpose statements correlate to their customer needs and how those needs can be translated into enabling strategies we can find the most effective projects to undertake. Using these mappings we can determine the feasibility of developing web-based capabilities by encapsulating them within the scopes of our defined themes and measuring their effectiveness in meeting the 9 defined requirements. One course of action would be to develop video streaming capabilities to offer students, alumni, parents and art enthusiasts easier access to student events and galleries. This would provide the streaming media requirement, provide a community outreach to shut-in people, and showcase talent. However, by itself it's effect is limited. It promotes a media that can't capture the quality of productions, it doesn't attract new talent, it doesn't foster growth as artists or learers, it lacks interactivity, and it doesn't promote the academy to others outside of those in existing mailing lists.
By adding simple technologies like javascript messaging and 2 way audio the system can be leveraged to meet many more of the requirements and provide much more effectivenes for the cost. Through messaging capabilities and formal class frameworks to encourage students to discuss performances with online audince members interactivity and student growth can be added. Broad community outreach and increased brand awareness (with talented prospects) can also be realized by developing programs with elementary and middle school systems in an attempt to improve public school arts programs through 2 way video streaming, VOIP and streaming. In addition, these programs would convey ICA's uncompromising artistic and educaitonal standards.
The opportunities are limited to streaming technology and its potential for developing leadership and domestic standing. With some thought the possibilities of the program can be further defined to provide value in enhancing competition and initiative, campus life and diversity in curricula.