JISC RSC YH Exchange News

For those new to writing and developing strategy, a new JISC briefcase of resources is launched today to support people through the increasing scale of challenges facing learning providers.

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/strategy

The ‘strategy infokit’ produced by the JISC-funded advisory service JISC InfoNet covers all aspects of the strategy process: from articulating your institution’s vision and the characteristics of a good mission statement, to advice on effective use of key performance indicators and a checklist for what to monitor.

The intention is not that people will use all of the suggestions, but that they may find some of them of use within their particular organisation.

The advice is based on the premise that planning and implementing strategic activity is something which affects everyone who works within an institution.

While members of the senior management team are an obvious and important audience for this resource, those responsible for strategic operations within faculties, departments and teams will welcome the practical, hands-on approach taken in the guide and the ‘pick and mix’ style of tools and techniques.

The toolkit represents the culmination of a two year initiative by JISC InfoNet, It has been favourably reviewed by a panel of 15 experienced practitioners (7 from the further education and skills sector and 8 from higher education), who described it variously as ‘useful, reassuring and thought provoking’, ‘well presented’ and ‘extremely useful’.

The authors are now asking for further feedback from users within universities and colleges on the usefulness of the toolkit and any further examples which could help illustrate, reinforce and add context to the guidance.

View the toolkit and provide feedback at http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/strategy