Transformers

                Look around us, see and feel. The world is not what it looks like 24 years ago. Back then there were no concrete roads, there were no tall buildings, no big establishments and there were only a few concrete houses (most of them were wooden houses). But now there are skyscrapers, malls, huge houses, concrete 4 lane roads, overpasses and more. Those small establishments and businesses some of them closed while some remain standing and got better through the years. I know I’m not that old. But I just woke up one day realizing that ‘twas like the world has changed overnight. 

                I have spent my high school days in the same university where I currently work. I am a living witness of the changes that has happened in the university from administration, physical structure, rules and regulations, norms, traditions and pretty much like everything else. Some of those changes for me were unnecessary. But then again, I am not the one who’s running the university. I just work there. So, if they want something changed or something new, we’ll have to adhere so long as it doesn’t violate any of our rights and our contract.

Every organization has to do analysis and come up with strategies and plans based on needs and opportunities against competitors to be on top or stay on top, and against themselves to continue to improve and eventually be the best. Change is not easy. Not all changes are a result of the “majority wins”. There will always be some that will disagree to the plan but in the end they’ll realize that it was a good plan after all or that ‘twas good they did not involve themselves in it. The changes that we see in organizations undergo a so called Organizational Transformation Process. Of course before coming up with a result, it has to undergo a certain process; otherwise it’ll turn out to be a disaster.

This is how the process goes:

1.       Completing Needs and Opportunities

2.       Existing Mental Model

3.       Turning Point –Resistance and Denial

4.       Decide and Commence – Crisis – Termination

5.       Urgent Vision

6.       Transformation Priorities

7.       Launch Teams and Implement

8.       Align Behaviors: Feedback, Measures, Rewards, Learning (Go back to No. 5)

The school is supposed to be like the second home of the students. They are safe and well taken care of. They are taught things that will prepare them for the real world after they graduate. There are activities that help them build their characters, make new friends, and learn lots of things aside from things learned in class. But safety was a major problem that the university faced back then. There were bomb threats; grenades were thrown causing no fatalities but trauma and scars to some students and civilians who were there; rape cases, shooting incidents, holdups, snatching, burning of buildings, death threats, gang wars, and murders. The students felt unsafe inside the campus.

Because of these incidents, the administration decided to add security especially in every building and in every entry point of the university. Lamps were placed on every dark corner. Mini gates were constructed on every entry points. They became strict with every vehicle that goes in and out of the campus. They place stickers on every vehicle allowed to enter the university. Those without stickers must leave an ID before they are allowed to go in the campus. Humps were created all over the campus to prevent vehicles from running too fast. The Wednesday free day of students was abolished. They were required to wear their uniforms the whole week. Some were complaining since for a long time there was that free day and suddenly it was stopped. CCTVs were installed. Students and faculties were vigilant in their own ways. The university from passive became active with matters of security. But now students and faculty can go in the university even without proper uniform. Even beggars just enter classrooms to ask for money (to think that there was a sign that says they are not allowed inside the campus in the front gate). What happened to the security?

The former president has not faced so many issues of being corrupt or favoritism. But now the president has faced so many issues. He has so many new cars. Not to mention all the people he put in different positions in the university. He promotes some undeserving and demotes the deserving. Funds became difficult to access; administrative fees on all outside the campus activities are deducted from students’ fees, tax is deducted from contract of service employees’ salary, request subjects and honorariums, budget for a specific project is used for another project and many more. The university that was full of trees is now half bare. It is full of tarpaulins and banners with his face on it. Emergency consultation meetings are called every now and then even if the agenda is not that urgent. Employees in the administration are shuffled every now and then, and rules change every now and then.

When I first worked here the DTR is passed every month in 2 copies and the salary gets delayed in less than a week. But now we have to pass a DTR every 15 days and the salary gets delayed over a week. They require us to wear uniform but they don’t give us uniform allowance.

They have limited number of computers (40 per laboratory room that was only 25 in my college days) they are clearly aware of that but they let over 40 students enroll in a subject with laboratory. They say Facebook is not allowed in one memo but they did not add it to their list of blocked sites. The enrollment from manual became computerized but they took for granted the programmer who is now abroad. They say they wanted an enrollment system where the students don’t have to fall in line anymore. Is there such thing?

This university was just purely about agriculture. But with the passing times and the changing needs, it offered a whole lot of courses to keep up with other universities including Engineering, IT Courses, Arts, Health and Sciences, Education, Veterinary Medicine, Criminology, Technical courses and others.

Yes, the university has changed; new buildings, renovated buildings, new chairs, new tables, new equipments, new courses, new products, new services, new syllabus, new teachers, new rules and regulations, new administration. But as I see it, the transformation is not following the proper process. It’s pretty confusing for me really. It looks good outside but doesn’t look good inside. But since I am an employee here I guess I just have to be one of the transformers.