The Grand Experiment Continues

Over the past two weeks, we have seen the fluidity in every industry that we predicted and, unfortunately, have come to expect. The fact that the pandemic has not really lessened has forced more industries to take a deep look into their operating model. And, as a result, we are seeing a wide array of responses. Any event that requires mass numbers of people to be together in close proximity are a challenge. That includes education, sports, entertainment, dining – you know the drill.

Most, but not all, major college athletic conferences have placed fall sports on hold, or cancelled them altogether. That is a big deal, considering the revenue implications of those television contracts. The NBA, Tennis, NHL, and MLB have figured out how to play their sports without fan attendance and, in some cases, you could argue that the television coverage is technically better. Major entertainment venues continue to push back concerts, conferences, and trade events. Airlines and hotels continue to find ways to host travelers although under different guidelines for different companies.

Now we have two political parties trying to pull off the unthinkable. They are both hosting mostly virtual national conventions, leveraging technology along the way. After watching most of the first conference, the Democratic National Convention, I could not stop thinking about how they were able to widen participation and access to the event. The event allowed us to hear from so many more people in a more efficient way, including everyday Americans who had access to the internet. Yes, there were some technical glitches, but, to me, they seemed to represent a slightly more authentic America. If it would have worked perfectly, I might be more skeptical.

This fall education will be no different than other industries. There is a wide array of responses to the pandemic depending upon a given school or college geography and population. ISA has developed a dashboard of all of our current clients. We are tracking daily their reopening plans in three different categories: 1) all in person, 2) all online, and 3) blended or hybrid. It is fascinating to see the differences across the nation – there is no one size fits all approach.

We need to be watching for what will stick after the pandemic. What innovations that have and continue to occur during the pandemic will remain permanently in our various industries? There are innovations moving forward that will change the face of learning forever. The challenge at the moment is to identify them and build around for the future.