Finding and Maintaining Balance

Balance, symmetry, stability — these are important concepts not only in our day-to-day lives, but also in the life of organizations. Having just marked ASME Founders' Day (Feb. 16) and a globally expanded and successful Engineers Week celebration (Feb. 20–26), we have a unique opportunity to reflect on ASME's 125 years of achievements and growth.

With only three more months before Phase III implementation of our Continuity and Change effort begins, we are afforded another distinct moment to reflect. Transforming ASME and the way we function as an organization has occupied the time and energy of many people for nearly three years. What's it all REALLY about? To put it simply, it's about positioning ASME for successful future leadership and value. This requires balance — harmony between our strategic priorities, our resources, and the members and customers we serve. The title Continuity and Change was chosen to reflect the essential balance required between many of our legacy programs and our new opportunities.

We have identified our vision for change through use of the Balanced Scorecard strategic initiatives. They include external focuses (industry, government and young engineers); financial focuses (new sources of revenues, sunset of lower-value programs, cost-effective operations); internal focuses (building communities, content and knowledge, and advocating and communicating on behalf of the mechanical engineering profession); and learning and growth areas (business and leadership development, environmental scanning, and establishing best practices).

Working together, throughout ASME, we will achieve success. Last month, for example, more than 100 volunteers and staff prioritized ASME's programs and activities. This month, our Summit Team will be integrating the results of the prioritization process, to develop enterprise-wide recommendations for the Board of Governors' consideration and action in April. ASME will emerge as a dynamic, agile global organization with a solid foundation for the future.

Achieving balance will not be simple. It will require the sustained dedication and perseverance of many. We must be relentless in our continued pursuit of ASME value and progress. Our work is not ending. We are about to begin the hands-on work of turning those concepts and ideas into reality. Fortunately, as engineers, we know a little something about turning ideas into reality.

— Harry Armen
ASME President

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