CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday. April 24. 1997
3A
Koch gives recipe for business success
CEO speaks at Lied Center
By Laurie Fletchall Special to the Kansan
Vision, virtue, knowledge, decision rights and the proper incentives are the backbone of Market-Based Management and according to Charles Koch, are what it takes to succeed.
Koch, CEO and chairman of the Wichita-based Koch Industries, communicated these ideas to a nearcapacity crowd of 1,900 last night at the 31st annual Vickers Memorial Lecture at the Lied Center.
Maintaining a business today requires people to rethink their mental processes, to put customers first and to be willing to take risks and exercise common sense. Koch said
"Common sense is one of the most uncommon things in the world," he said.
He said that the way to succeed was to follow the five principles that had taken Koch Industries to record growth.
"Every significant improvement in our company starts with vision," Koch said. "Our vision is to produce entrepreneurs with capabilities to compete with major companies and succeed."
Selecting people on their virtue and values and not just by how well they scored on a test, is crucial to growth, he said.
"Switching the focus of workers from trying to please their boss to trying to please the customer, is critically important for development," Koch said.
He compared the normal bossworker relationship to that of a feudal lord who retains complete control. He said this relationship was totally unacceptable.
"We have put decision making back in the hands of the people who are working every day to increase customer satisfaction," he said.
Koch said workers in his company were directly rewarded for their ideas that were used to increase customer satisfaction. If workers came up with new ideas that saved the company money, then they would receive a percentage of the savings as an incentive.
Koch said he credited the success of his company to his dedication to Market-Based Management and the creation of a work environment in which workers had value. Market-Based Management is a concept of management principles and practices that was developed by Koch.
"We have more opportunities today than the total of all the opportunities of the past," Koch said.
Following the speech, Koch
"Common sense is one of the most uncommon things in the world."
Charles Koch
Charles Koch
CEO and chairman. Koch Industries
answered a few questions. He said that the biggest legacy his father left him was his love of learning and his high moral character.
Koch was then presented with an autographed basketball signed by Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams and the whole team.
Michael Long, Wichita junior, said he found the speech enlightening.
"He is a very intelligent man and very successful at what he does," Long said.
Shawn Ast, Wichita junior, saw him speak in high school.
"I've heard him speak before," Ast said. "If you listen carefully you will hear him give you all the information you need to succeed. He is one of the reasons I chose a career in business."
Charles Koch, chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, receives a basketball signed by Roy Williams and the season's team from Tom Sarowelli, dean of business. He accepted the ball after his speech last night at the Lied Center.
James Grau / KANSAN
Watkins construction still not finished
By Emily Vrabac and Sarah Chadwick Kansan staff writers
The Open House at Watkins Memorial Health Center scheduled for April 30 has been delayed because of continuing construction and interior decorating. Ninety-five percent of the two-year renovation project, which began in July 1995, has been completed by R.M.T. Construction, Olathe.
Renovations to Watkins Memorial Health Center will take longer than expected.
Jim Strobl, director of student health services, said that several small projects still remained, but that the construction was not expected to exceed its $4.5 million budget.
Students have financed the entire project, which began in Fall 199. Student Senate approved a $15 student fee in April 1994 for the project, and that fee took effect in the Fall 1994.
Strobl said that the entire project, including inside decoration, would be finished by the end of September.
Strobli said that the fee would remain in place for about the next 10 years to provide for building costs and maintenance.
"We were going to have an open house on April 30." Strobel said. "We have now postponed that because all of the stuff isn't done."
The majority of the work remaining includes the construction of the main entrance, outside landscaping and some interior work, such as painting and recarpeting various rooms.
"The biggest thing in my opinion is the lobby," Strobi said, referring to the waiting room's artwork. "That probably won't be in place until fall."
He said they planned to decorate the lobby with traditional University of Kansas artwork.
"There will be a giant 'KU' by the admissions area, a picture of a Jayhawk by the pharmacy and the word 'Jayhawks' on the wall inside the west entrance," Stroblsaid.
He said there would be a picture of a Jayhawk doctor by the nursing station and a progression of the various Jayhawks used through the years on the wall north of the admissions area.
Strobl said he planned to hang portraits of Elizabeth Watkins, the founders of Watkins, and James Naismith, the University physician from 1912 to 1917.
"I think the students will really identify with this stuff." Strobl said.
The changes that have been made will allow the staff to be more efficient, add additional exam rooms, and update equipment, said Randall Rock, Watkins chief of staff.
"The biggest benefit we've seen as we started moving in is the treatment clinic." Rock said. "It is four times the size and offers more confidentiality with
individual rooms. We also have a new procedure room in a scheduled place that won't be interrupted. It will allow for a lot smoother functioning."
Changes have also been made in the pharmacy.
"We arranged it to provide more confidential place to counsel people instead of in front where people are waiting," said Cathy Thrasher, chief pharmacist at Watkins.
Thrasher said the pharmacy had a new computer system that was better at checking drug interactions and insurance items. She said the work area would be more efficient.
The building was erected in 1969, when the health center moved from its former location in Twente Hall, Strobl said.
By Paul Eakins
Kansan staff writer
Options include razing houses, offices for space
The Lawrence Arts Center will be improved and expanded if the center's board of directors gets its way.
Proponents of the $5.8 million expansion plan say that the center, 200 W. Ninth St., needs to remain in its historic 1904 building near downtown. Opponents say the center does not need to remain there and that neighboring buildings should not be demolished for its expansion.
However, several issues surrounding an expansion proposal have sparked debate.
The Lawrence City Commission already has authorized $3 million to be spent from 1999 to 2000 for the expansion, and the rest would be paid for through private donations, said Ann Evans, executive director of the center.
David Longhurst, president of Downtown Lawrence Inc., said it was important to maintain the building's location and atmosphere.
"It is the only venue in Lawrence that crosses every demographic," he said. "I'm not sure if it was located somewhere else that it would maintain the unique, comfortable character that it has."
Originally, the center's representatives wanted to expand the building west to Kentucky Street. To do this, Evans said, houses on the northwest corner of Ninth and Kentucky streets would have to be torn down, and the alley between Vermont and Kentucky streets would be blocked off.
Another proposal is to expand the center to the north, building on the center's parking lot and buying Vermont Street Station, which holds six professional offices. The center would demolish the offices and
build on the lot.
Mike Hickman, owner of Vermont Street Station, said he did not want to sell his property, but that he understood the needs of the center because served on its board of directors in the mid-1970s.
Representatives of the center obtained independent appraisals of the properties to the north and west, estimating Hickman's property at $700,000. This, he said, is too low.
"I want to see the center stay, but I don't want to pay for it all myself," Hickman said. He said the center could be relocated to a new, larger building for less money, and maintain its appeal.
Ann Evans, executive director of the center, said that people who had attended public forums on the expansion had concerns about both proposals, such as loss of the alley access, the loss of housing and offices near downtown and reluctance to change.
Evans said the center was willing to move the houses, but that whatever happened, the expansion was needed.
"We need more of what we have — more exhibition space, more classrooms, more performance space," Evans said.
Brook Blackhurst, Lawrence senior, who works at and uses the center, agrees with Evans. She said that there were too few classrooms for the number of classes, which limited the number of students.
"We're completely overcrowded," Blackhurst said. "We have tons of people that want to get into these classes that we can't place."
Blackhurst said the expansion could help KU students by offering more classes. Some students who can't get into classes such as metal working or photography at the University of Kansas take them at the center, she said.
Evans said the center had plays, musical performances and art displays and offers 450 classes throughout the year. The center has an annual attendance of 95,000.
B. O.C.O
Board of Class Officers is extending the deadline for Applications for the 1997-98 Senior, Junior, and Sophomore Class Officers
Applications can be picked up in the OAC in Kansas Union Due: Friday, April 25th at Mandatory Info Meeting 5:00 p.m. International Room, Kansas Union w/$5 election fee
Elections: April 30th & May 1st 9:30a.m.-2p.m.
Any Questions: call Fred Coulson 331-2476
Attention KU Registered Organizations!
It's "that time of the year again-time to re-register your organization for the 1997-98 academic year!
OAC
Organizations and Activities Center
400 Kansas Union
913-864-4861
1997-98 Organization Registration Forms are available at the Organizations and Activities Center, Room 400, Kansas Union. All organizations must annually complete an Organization Registration Form to receive the benefits of registered organizations.
Stop by OAC today to pick up your 97-98 form!