Office of Strategic Coherence, Strategic Alignment, and Future-Facing Simplification
Executive Summary
The University recognises that strategic planning is essential to institutional success.
However, recent feedback indicates that the increasing number, complexity, and interrelationship of strategic plans may create challenges for staff seeking to understand strategic direction.
In response, the University has launched an ambitious new initiative:
The Strategic Plan to Simplify Strategic Plans (SPSP)
This initiative will reduce unnecessary strategic complexity by introducing a clear, streamlined strategic framework consisting of fewer, more focused strategic documents.
1. Background
The current strategic environment includes:
The University Strategic Plan
The Faculty Strategic Plans
The School Strategic Plans
The Research Strategy
The Education Strategy
The Student Experience Strategy
The Digital Transformation Strategy
The Sustainability Strategy
The Equity and Inclusion Strategy
The People and Culture Strategy
The Strategic Enablers Framework
The Strategic Implementation Roadmap
The Strategic Roadmap Implementation Alignment Plan
A recent review found that staff were experiencing difficulty understanding how these documents relate to one another.
The solution is therefore clear:
A new strategic document explaining the relationship between existing strategic documents.
2. The Simplification Framework
The SPSP will introduce a hierarchy of strategic clarity.
Level 1: Strategic Direction
A high-level statement explaining where the University intends to go.
Example:
"Towards a future of transformative excellence through connected innovation."
Level 2: Strategic Priorities
A list of things the University considers important.
Examples:
Excellence
Impact
Innovation
Collaboration
Transformation
Level 3: Strategic Themes
A refined interpretation of priorities.
Examples:
Excellence through impact
Innovation through collaboration
Transformation through excellence
Level 4: Strategic Enablers
The mechanisms through which themes become priorities that support direction.
Examples:
Culture
Capability
Digital maturity
Agility
Strategic alignment
Level 5: Strategic Integration
The process by which all previous levels are demonstrated to be mutually reinforcing.
This level is currently under development.
3. The Reduction of Strategic Documents
As part of simplification, the University will reduce the number of strategic plans from twelve to eight.
The four eliminated plans will be incorporated into:
The Strategic Plan Reduction Integration Strategy
This strategy will itself require:
an implementation plan,
a governance framework,
and a review process.
4. Strategic Language Optimisation
To improve accessibility, all strategic documents will now use a common vocabulary.
The following terms are recommended:
| Previous Term | Strategic Replacement |
|---|---|
| Goal | Strategic aspiration |
| Target | Future-oriented milestone |
| Problem | Opportunity for transformation |
| Delay | Adaptive sequencing |
| Confusion | Emerging complexity |
| Failure | Learning outcome |
| Cancellation | Strategic reprioritisation |
5. Measuring Strategic Success
The success of the SPSP will be measured through:
reduction in staff questions about strategy,
increased confidence in strategic alignment,
improved ability to identify which strategy applies,
decreased production of duplicate strategic documents.
Progress will be monitored through the:
Strategic Simplification Effectiveness Dashboard
The dashboard will contain:
47 indicators,
12 categories,
6 reporting layers,
and a summary page explaining why the dashboard cannot be reduced further.
6. Strategic Consultation
Staff will be invited to contribute feedback through:
workshops,
surveys,
listening sessions,
strategic conversations,
reflective alignment forums.
Feedback will be reviewed against strategic priorities.
Feedback inconsistent with strategic priorities will be retained as evidence of valuable diversity of perspective.
7. Implementation Timeline
Phase 1:
Review of current strategic documents.
Phase 2:
Development of strategic simplification principles.
Phase 3:
Consultation on simplification principles.
Phase 4:
Revision of simplification principles.
Phase 5:
Development of revised strategic documents.
Phase 6:
Creation of implementation framework.
Phase 7:
Alignment review.
Phase 8:
Strategic coherence assessment.
Phase 9:
Strategic Plan to Simplify Strategic Plans launched.
Phase 10:
Review of Phase 9.
Phase 11:
Development of Phase 10 improvement strategy.
Phase 12:
Strategic reflection on whether strategic simplification remains strategically appropriate.
Conclusion
The University remains committed to making strategy simpler, clearer, and more accessible.
The SPSP represents a major step toward reducing strategic complexity while ensuring that all important strategic considerations continue to be strategically considered.
Staff are reminded:
If you cannot identify which strategic plan applies, this does not indicate a failure of strategy.
It indicates an opportunity for further strategic alignment.
Appendix A
The Executive has approved the establishment of a working group to examine whether the Strategic Plan to Simplify Strategic Plans should itself be simplified.
The working group will report in due course.
Subject to strategic review.
