ViKiwi
Education Management - , ,
ViKiwi Employees
ViKiwi Details
Gee Kin Chou and Eric Hestenes, two executives from Charles Schwab & Co, started ViKiwi in 2003 to apply private sector best practices to improve the effectiveness of public sector enterprises. ViKiwi has been working to reform K-12 education, in particular high poverty urban districts, since its inception. ViKiwi applies business management methodologies to identify problems, to design and to implement solutions. And given that technology can be an important component of any solution, ViKiwi maintains a strong capability in technology that can deliver both "build" or "buy" solutions. Much of ViKiwi's work in K-12 education has been to develop and implement accountability systems that foster a culture of data driven decision-making. These systems borrow from good management practices that ViKiwi's founders have proven in business.Vikiwi applies a disciplined project management framework to all its work, and coaches district personnel in this approach. While technology is one of the company's main capabilities, ViKiwi recognizes that technology is never the whole answer; consultants also look for solutions that may include process, cultural and organizational changes.Through daily interactions with district personnel at many levels, Vikiwi consultants have developed an appreciation of the challenges facing urban school districts and the complexity of the environment, especially within the context of No Child Left Behind. ViKiwi has recognized that sustainable reform depends on careful change management and building district capacity to continue the initiatives after they have departed.
