One of the nation’s leading graduate business schools knew that the competition was increasing and that in order to stay in the upper echelon, they would need to keep track of how they were perceived relative to other elite programs.
An annual survey of its admittees allowed them to get near real-time data on how their school is perceived in terms of reputation, the admissions process, and direct comparison to their closest competitors.
Impressions can turn quickly, and with social media, word of perceived problems can spread near instantly. Monitoring what their newest students know and believe about the institution allowed the business school to identify relative weak areas when it came to the admissions process, facilities, and scholarship opportunities.
Being strong is about identifying weaknesses before they become a problem, and research that allows for regular monitoring can save significant time and money.