Attributes of our New Graduates: Working Document

In addition to competencies in key functional areas of business, our graduates should possess the ability to: 1) detect opportunity, 2) assume risk borne out of conviction about the opportunity's desirability/feasibility, and 3) marshal necessary resources (within or external to the organization) to quickly convert the opportunity into reality. Attributes associated with these three attributes are listed below.

I. Detects Opportunity

1. Inquiring mind and understanding. Fosters mental habits for lifelong learning and growth. Asks probing questions, reaasons critically and logically, compares and manages one's own ongoing learning. Perceives the managerial relevance of penetrating ideas from our world's cultural heritage (including aesthetic sensitivities) and develops a rich understanding of human behavior/differences. Understands the conceptual foundations (philosophical underpinnings) of business. Integrates multiple perspectives (e.g., business and non-business including science and engineering).
2. Global perspective. Perceives non-market trends (political, govenernmental, legal, societal--including demographic diversity issues) having implications for business behavior/opportunities (major paradigm shifts). Comprehends global market and non-market (multi-cultural) forces on business.
3. Creativity. Sees beyond the concrete and envisions new opportunities, utilizing techniques of creative thinking and imagination; e.g., frames problems in new ways and sees new relationships.
4. Value-driven competitive business orientation. Understands how organization culture is infused with the profound customer orientation driving global competitive behavior. Carries out root cause analysis when needed. Applies quality concepts to achieve continuous improvement and innovation. Perceives opportunities created by discontinuous technological change.

II. Assumes risk borne out of conviction

1. Self-awareness. Has developed a thoughtful personal belief/values system. Knows own strengths and weaknesses and how to utilize self most effectively.
2. Pathfinding. Has internal "pathfinding"" qualities (personal commitment, determination, and deep belief). Willingness to be "paradigm breakers" and move beyond the safe harbors of conventional thinking. Uses and moves beyond analysis as basis for action.
3. Risk-taking. Has realistic view of risk-taking; recognizes and accepts the odds and the risk of failure but able to manage risk -- not just gamble.

III. Marshals resources to convert the opportunity into reality

1. A team player. Not a "loner", but develops and participates in innovative units. Intelligently forms and energizes teams. Effective when working in self-monitoring teams, including managing meetings, "fuzzy" decision-making and team action taking.
2. Leadership/change skills. Proactive; i.e., takes ownership of projects and does what is needed to carry projects to completion. Knowledgeable about the change process within organizations, able to pull together, maintain, and carry through change projects. Able to assess, organize, and utilize the resources which others provide. Able to develop and maintain the motivation of a project group.
3. Negotiation and persuasive skills. Develops personal power and is an effective "influencer". Organizes and carries out individual and group persuasive presentations. Writes clearly and persuasively. Recognizes and deals with conflict effectively.
4. Problem solving and judgment. raises and creatively solves problems individually and in collaboration with a team, in ambiguous circumstances and with "insufficient" resources. Places analysis within a broader framework of "judgment. Practices ethical reasoning skills.
5. Organizational savvy and political skills. Understands how things really get done within and external to organizations, e.g., utilizing networks and alliances. Able to act on this understanding to further organizational opportunities.