Values are broad guidelines that describe how we pursue our purpose. Just as a mission statement describes “why”, values describe “how.” Values are meant to be clear so that the desired behaviors to demonstrate a value are understood. They guide our daily decision making. They must be consistently acted upon and followed by management or they will be seen as merely good intentions. The intent of the statement of values is described in greater detail below.

Competency

BYU personnel are expected to be competent in executing their responsibilities. Depending on the position, responsibilities may include technical skills, interpersonal skills, specialized industry knowledge or an understanding of applicable regulations, among other things. The depth and breadth of required competency will vary from department to department and position to position. Nevertheless, all employees should strive to improve their competency and master the skills necessary to achieve the objectives of their organizations. In so doing, we will ensure that the services we provide and the products we sell reflect the highest standards of quality.

Respect for Sacred Resources

The resources used at BYU come from the tithing funds of the Church, contributions from donors, purchases by customers and funded research. Regardless of source, all resources given to BYU are considered sacred. This means that we are careful with the resources we have been given. It means that funds allocated for one purpose are not to be diverted to another purpose.

It also means that we strive to find the most effective way to accomplish a task. Finally, it means we will evaluate what we do on a regular basis and fund only those activities that make a real contribution to the mission of the university.

Integrity

Integrity at BYU means dealing openly and honestly with patrons, fellow employees, regulators, students and other stakeholders, meeting or exceeding our commitments and acting consistently with our other values. It means keeping the promises that we make to others, respecting the interests of those with whom we interact and meeting the highest standards of ethical behavior.

In our working relationships with supervisors and subordinates, integrity means communicating candidly and openly in meetings and one-on-one to share ideas, to disagree and to offer or receive constructive criticism, where appropriate.

Teamwork

BYU personnel are required to function as teams within their departments and in teams involving multiple departments. True “team” behavior requires alignment with the objectives of the team. We should express honest opinions and strive to contribute to the desired outcome. Employees who cannot support a team objective should ask to be excused from the team. There is no place at BYU for “passive-aggressive” behaviors which pay lip-service to team objectives and then seek to undermine the team through inaction or active disruption. Personnel who understand team dynamics recognize that Together Everyone Accomplishes More.

Exceeding Customer Expectations

We strive to exceed customer expectations, both in the products and services we provide. This means we first need to understand what our customers expect. What customers need and expect is the denominator of the service equation. The customer’s experience with the product or service is the numerator of that equation. Anything less than a ratio of one means that the customer’s expectations have not been fully met.

It is important to note that expectations can vary dramatically, depending on the circumstances. Also, we will not seek to exceed customer expectations at any cost. In some cases, it may be more important to help change expectations.

Respect for all Individuals

We strive to show respect for all individuals with whom we interact. This includes students, prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, customers, donors, suppliers, representatives of our Church sponsor and others. Respect involves treating each person as we would like to be treated. It includes behaviors like courtesy, honesty, listening and promptness.

Respect also involves encouraging people to express their ideas and opinions, including disagreements and complaints. It involves valuing the differences that arise from unique ideas, experiences and backgrounds. Managers should set the tone and create an environment of respect in their work areas. It should be an environment in which we respect each other personally, as well as professionally, one that will contribute to individual growth, job satisfaction and our effectiveness as an organization.

Innovation

We strive to move forward, always looking for a better way to serve patrons, eliminate waste, become more effective and make BYU a stronger organization. Innovation and improvement should be seen as the responsibility of every employee at BYU. Each of us is responsible to improve the products and services we provide as well as the way work is accomplished.

Innovation is fostered by focus on long term solutions, rather than the quick fixes, and on improving processes, rather than simply responding to problems. Our success in the future will require continual learning through formal training, on-the-job education, challenging work assignments and mentoring.

Accountability

Excellence in performance is expected of every BYU employee. Achieving high performance on a consistent basis involves a results-orientation with a focus on accountability in all that we do. This means setting clear goals, reporting progress on a regular basis and monitoring progress through appropriate performance measures. It also includes following through to ensure completion of what we set out to do and acknowledging mistakes when they are made.

This value applies equally to team assignments as it does to individual responsibilities