Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Forget the 10 Cents

  • By Deborah P. Moore
  • 08/01/15

How do we measure value? Is it strictly based on dollars spent? Do we ever take into account the not-so-obvious things that we gain?

This past week, I had a very interesting conversation with a representative from a community college who asked these questions and brought up some very interesting points that I had never really thought much about. The gist of the conversation was that the strict rules we have in place, when it comes to purchasing, do not always take into account the bigger picture. And, oftentimes, they are in direct opposition to the directives given by the leadership regarding community engagement and the formation of partnerships — a different kind of capital.

The conversation was not about spending more, nor was it about life-cycle costing. It was about valuing the often hidden gains that come from developing partnerships and supporting the local community and businesses — the people who come to your sporting events, take classes on your campus, pay local taxes and donate money to sponsor your events. His point was that too many of us have let the idea of saving 10 cents on a single transaction trump the benefits that can be gained from developing meaningful relationships.

Transaction vs. Relationship

I am not too fond of the “what can you do for me this time” mentality that many of us have developed in recent years. Transactions seem to have become singularly focused — price on the consumer side, making the sale on the business side. The idea is that the consumer wins… but do they? Relationships are more my style — focusing on the long-term needs, understanding the goals and helping to solve the problems that are sure to arise. It is not an “I win” mentality, it’s a “we win!”

While adopting a transaction mentality may save 10 cents on a purchase, a relationship/partnership that has been nurtured and developed over years is priceless.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Acquires VPS Architecture

    Full-service planning, architecture, and engineering firm Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has acquired VPS Architecture, according to a news release. The move will help strengthen Wold’s education and public-sector design expertise, industries in which both companies have strong pre-existing ties and relationships.