By Gregory L. Schlegel, CPIM, CSP

I'd like to begin by profiling the APICS '97 International Conference and Exhibition theme, Target Breakthrough Ideas. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary describes our theme this way: Target -- "marking a goal to be achieved" ... Breakthrough -- "an act of breaking through an obstruction ... a sudden advance in knowledge or technology" ... Idea -- "something imagined."

With our theme established for 1997 and the APICS Vision, Mission and Goals driving our strategic thinking and planning processes, I'd like to give you a sense of how APICS plans to achieve its mission of being the premier educational society for resource management with breakthrough ideas and a knowledge-based strategy.

APICS was founded four decades ago this year as a "breakthrough strategy." APICS was the vision of Nyles Reinfeld who, with several other individuals, created a breakthrough organization in the field of production and inventory management. As the years have passed, we've continued to "break the mold" by expanding our educational focus beyond production and inventory into the broader area of integrated resource management. And this expanded focus has paid off. In the last 12 to 15 months alone, APICS has achieved $6 million in orders of educational materials! We have surpassed our previous membership record and recently held our most successful international conference ever! In addition, our professional staff has further integrated APICS' approach to customer service and education.

With more emphasis from the APICS Board of Directors on strategic thinking and planning, we will continue developing breakthrough strategies in 1997 and beyond. These strategies will be based on four tenets to ensure successful fulfillment of the APICS Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives through the year 2000:

1. Broaden the market
2. Differentiate APICS from other organizations through our "core competencies"
3. Leverage technology
4. Be a "glocal" organization

Broadening the APICS market
As Steven Covey points out in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, "Synergy works ... It is teamwork, team building, the development of unity and creativity ..." APICS will use the synergy concept in expanding our reach to allied organizations, top management and new markets.

Strategic alliances with allied organizations such as the National Association of Purchasing Management and the Institute of Management Accountants will result in maximized educational benefits for our organizations and add value for all our members. Through corporate marketing, we will reach out to the corporate decision-makers and define how APICS can add value to their organizations. Finally, through increased niche marketing, we will effectively demonstrate how the APICS Body of Knowledge can add value to new APICS markets, such as service industries and utilities.


Differentiating APICS through "core competencies"
APICS strives to help not only our society but also our members' companies to truly become learning organizations. As Peter Senge describes: "Learning organizations are those where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free and where people are continually learning how to learn together."

Critical to APICS as a learning organization and in helping others become learning organizations is the APICS Body of Knowledge. By further differentiating ourselves through our "core competencies," we will be able to further expand and evolve as a knowledge-based organization. And, by expanding the applicability of our body of knowledge outside the traditional APICS markets, we can tailor new products and services to provide immediate value to outside disciplines. We also will develop "tailored" agile educational approaches that provide maximum market flexibility and penetration.


Leveraging technology
Recent technological innovations have provided organizations like APICS with new tools to increase our educational efficiencies in the marketplace. By leveraging technology, we will continue to develop "best-in-class" business, communication and educational delivery systems.

In 1997, we will use new technologies such as fax-on-demand and call management software to help increase customer service support at APICS headquarters. We also will expand our use and presence on the Internet and World Wide Web, expanding our market through increased national and global awareness of the society. Finally, we will strengthen our educational delivery systems by emphasizing computer-based testing, initiating pilot programs for distance learning technology, and exploring the use of PC-based and CD-ROM delivery methods for "tailored" educational capabilities.


Becoming a "glocal" organization
APICS first entered the international arena in 1963 when the late Isidore Eisner was society president and the term "international" was added to our nomenclature.

Today, APICS is represented in more than 30 countries worldwide. To further our international and domestic expansion in 1997, APICS will work to achieve solid global communication and delivery system capabilities. But, to do so, we must rely on sophisticated local management. In short, APICS will turn to YOU, our more than 70,000 dedicated volunteers and the APICS professional staff, to help leverage systems and add value and knowledge to the toolkits of our customers, both domestically and internationally.


The breakthrough continues
With new breakthrough ideas emerging from the entire APICS organization -- a newly structured and expanded headquarters professional staff, increased use of technology, a new streamlined governance process for the board of directors and an inclusive team-concept approach toward managing change -- I'm confident APICS will continue its process toward becoming a true learning organization in 1997 and beyond. In doing so, we will further the APICS mission of being "the premier provider and global leader in individual and organizational education, standards of excellence, and information in integrated resource management."

I look forward to an exciting, "push-the-edge-of-the-envelope" year as we continue to serve our members and customers through product leadership, operational excellence and customer care.

APICS Vision, Mission and Goals Statement VISION To inspire individuals and organizations toward lifelong learning and to enhance individual and organizational success. MISSION To be the premier provider and global leader in individual and organizational education, standards of excellence, and information in integrated resource management. GOALS Goal 1: The educational offerings, products and services of APICS will be market-driven and accessible on demand. Goal 2: APICS will be recognized as the source for state-of-the-art information (Body of Knowledge) in all aspects of integrated resource management. Goal 3: Organizations and individuals will find certification of professional expertise available through APICS of value. Goal 4: Members will recognize APICS as a provider of value-added services and benefits to support growth and continued professional development.

Copyright © 2020 by APICS — The Educational Society for Resource Management. All rights reserved.

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