CASE STUDY
Whether you like it or
not, be prepared for a
paradigm shift from the
traditional methods of
learning to a greater
online presence.
• “Pro: Online applications appeal to more clubs that cannot
attend the annual conference for a variety of reasons (financial,
geographical, etc.), so you have an increased attendance.
Con: I miss the networking experience of conferences,
and trade shows truly are not able to be the same in a
virtual environment.”
• “Pro: I have been able to be part of more PD sessions since
moving to online with no travel. Con: I miss the one-on-one
time with other CSCM members.”
It is clear that we are living through some extraordinary times.
The way we communicate is changing. Clubs will need to choose
what makes sense for their respective operations and weigh out
the advantages and disadvantages of communication channels.
As a result, PD may see the most profound change as clubs adopt
more cost-effective ways to engage employees in PD opportunities
to maximize their return on investment. Whether you like it or not,
be prepared for a paradigm shift from the traditional methods of
learning to a greater online presence.
There is a great debate among economists, scholars and the
corporate world on the impacts of COVID-19 and the future of
business operations. Large corporations will likely see the biggest
impact, due to the realization that many work functions can be
accomplished remotely, leading to the downsizing of office space
and reducing the need for “brick and mortar” locations. Though
this doesn’t completely translate to all areas of the club industry, as
GMs we need to consider the following possibilities:
• Increased work flexibility – Where appropriate, many clerical
tasks can be accomplished from home rather than at the club.
• Improved efficiencies in communication – The use of
video conferencing and capitalizing on current and new
technologies will continue to trend far beyond the conclusion
of the pandemic.
• E-learning for everyone – With online education continuing
to be more accessible and affordable, professional development
could reach more employees within the club than ever before.
Though we are all anxiously anticipating a return to normal,
the pandemic has forced us to find new ways to adapt and
push our organizations forward. The silver lining is that despite
the hardships endured along the way, we have proven the
human spirit will prevail and even in the darkest days, there
are teachable moments.
Rob Foster is the coordinator of the Golf and Club Management
Program at Fanshawe College. He has an MBA from Fitchburg State
University and a master’s certification in online teaching from the
University of Illinois. Foster is also the director of communications for
the Southwest Branch of the CSCM.
References
1 Intermedia Cloud Communications, Mekis, Darcy (2020) Why
Video Conferencing Is More Productive than In-Person Meetings
retrieved April 7, 2020 from https://bit.ly/3fRV66O
2 On-Line Learning and Distance Education Resources Bate,
Tony PhD (2020) Post-Pandemic Lesson 1: Online and blended
learning will increase substantially post-COVID-19 retrieved
November 5th, 2020 from https://bit.ly/3wAhSGi
CMQ § Spring 2021 § 19
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