The term "performance indicators" describes AACSB's initiative to collect and disseminate data and produce information to better inform stakeholders about the characteristics and practices of business schools and industry trends in order to promote institutional improvement, enhance public understanding and facilitate informed decisions.

In addition to asking members to update AACSB data about the characteristics of the business school, in fall 2000 all AACSB educational members will be asked to provide, as a responsibility of membership, a set of key data. To facilitate planning, the most current version of the draft questionnaire is available to members for downloading from the AACSB Web site: http://www.aacsb.edu/knowledgeservices/. 

The following is an update on the performance indicators project:

• Forty-five member schools currently are involved in a pilot test of the performance indicators questionnaire. Their experience with the key data questionnaire and instructions is considered critical feedback to further refinement and improvement of the survey instrument and process.
• A number of focus groups are being held throughout the summer and fall in order to garner important information from a wide variety of constituencies.
• Project update presentations are planned for each of the regional meetings throughout the summer and fall in order to keep AACSB members informed of program development and reporting expectations for the membership.
• Sessions on the project will be offered as part of AACSB's Continuous Improvement Symposium, which will be held September 17 - 19 in Tampa, Fla.
• Open hearings on the project at the 2000 Annual Meeting in San Diego were audio taped and may be purchased online from Network Communications at http://www.swiftsite.com/nettapes/aacsb2000.html. 

Dan LeClair, AACSB director of information services and strategies (dan@aacsb.edu), is the staff contact for all performance indicators project questions, comments and suggestions.