Developing and Reviewing Strategy in Academic Departments

This session is part of our "Showcasing Good Practice" event, providing a space for our members to share with each other the work they have done which they feel has been a particular success, and to celebrate and promote the hard work of planners in the HE sector. Each session will comprise of a presentation followed by a Q&A opportunity. Events are being held on Teams, and a joining link will be sent prior to the event once you have booked your place. 

Developing and Reviewing Strategy in Academic Departments

Date: Tuesday 20 September, 14:00 - 15:00

Presenters: University of Warwick

Carol Walker, Assistant Registrar, Strategic Planning and Analytics Group

Alicia Buckley, Market Research Manager

Will Dickens, Senior Data Analyst

James Hutchinson, Head of Finance, Departmental Services Team

Sam McClenaghan, Deputy Finance Director

Alex Tiffany, Associate Director, Market Research & Insight

Paul Johnstone, Head of Analytics

Claire Wightman, Administrative Officer

Rory McIntyre, Senior Assistant Registrar (Strategic Planning and Analytics)

Description: 

In this session, colleagues from The University of Warwick will be sharing their experience of completing a long-term project to progress 30+ academic departments through strategy development on a rolling programme.  The Strategic Planning & Analytics team (SP&A) leads the activity to support departments with data and analytics, desk research, and advice and guidance from across university functions to develop a comprehensive 10-year strategy, financial plan, and set of gateway metrics and resource requirements.

Each departmental process takes around six months to complete and is broken down into two phases. In phase 1, departments are supported to review data, analytics, and desk research at institutional and sector level for direct and aspirational competitors/comparators, conduct SWOT and PESTLE analyses, consider future size and shape, and to look for competitive advantages and opportunities ensuring a link with University strategy and key priorities. Consultation with departmental staff is built-in to the process.

In phase 2, a greater emphasis on finance is introduced to turn the outline strategic plan into a full strategy and implementation plan, incorporating a 10-year financial plan with financial targets, and to develop a set of non-financial, qualitative metrics, gateways and targets, reviewed annually, to provide reassurance that the department is on track for strategy delivery and that, if met, facilitates automatic release of resource without further need for bidding.

Upon completion, the academic department will have a coherent and ambitious 10-year strategic plan, aligned to the broader strategic goals of the University, and for which there is significant cross-institutional support