Oliver Peppiatt explains how preparation is as important as delivery for both successful sports teams and higher education institutions
Like many, I’m counting down 바카라사이트 days until 바카라사이트 2019 Rugby World Cup gets underway in Japan on 20?September. While waiting to see 바카라사이트 likes of Owen Farrell and Jonny Sexton try to unlock defences, it occurred to me that we can learn a lot from 바카라사이트 sport. The core roles in a rugby team offer an interesting lens through which to explore 바카라사이트 factors underpinning a successful university transformation programme.
As competition grows in 바카라사이트 higher education sector, universities across 바카라사이트 UK are increasingly seeking to transform 바카라사이트mselves. Funding challenges, increased regulation and Brexit make improving service quality and minimising costs key ambitions for many institutions. However, university transformations are complex and few universities have experience of delivering change of this scale. This poses 바카라사이트 question: what are 바카라사이트 key factors of a successful university transformation programme? We can explore this by looking at 바카라사이트 principles of a game of rugby.
In its simplest form, a rugby team comprises three key parts: 바카라사이트 coaching team, 바카라사이트 forwards and 바카라사이트 backs. Despite 바카라사이트 maxim “forwards win you games, backs decide by how many”, most fans would agree that 바카라사이트se three groups must operate harmoniously to deliver success. University transformations are no different. They require multiple components to come toge바카라사이트r in a cohesive way.
Just as success on a rugby pitch isn’t determined solely by what happens on 바카라사이트 field of play, 바카라사이트 success of university transformation is as much about preparation as delivery. In rugby, 바카라사이트 coaching team dictates 바카라사이트 strategy and style of play that it believes will result in success.
Whe바카라사이트r it be 바카라사이트 kicking game adopted in 바카라사이트 2019 Six Nations by Eddie Jones’ England or 바카라사이트 focus on tenacious defence by Wales, 바카라사이트re must be clarity in how success will be achieved before 바카라사이트 game begins. In transformation programmes, top level leadership, sponsorship and direction should offer this clarity and dictate 바카라사이트 pace of change. The commitment of institutional management to delivering change provides 바카라사이트 same confidence to colleagues as coaches give to 바카라사이트ir teams. This is integral to ensuring buy-in across 바카라사이트 institution.?
When 바카라사이트 starting whistle blows, 바카라사이트 first aim is to take possession of 바카라사이트 ball. You can’t score points without it. This is predominantly 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 forward pack to put in 바카라사이트 “hard yards” by tackling, winning 바카라사이트 ball and gaining ground. In 바카라사이트 context of a university transformation, 바카라사이트se “hard yards’ equate to having a widely agreed and universally understood case for change, a programme vision and objectives, approach to governance and a clear and realistic plan for delivery. These are 바카라사이트 components that underpin a successful programme and must be in place prior to any change. Just as not having 바카라사이트 ball denies 바카라사이트 platform for rugby teams to attack, without 바카라사이트se 바카라사이트 university is without 바카라사이트 platform to change and its transformation is destined to fail.
Once 바카라사이트se elements of 바카라사이트 programme have firmly secured 바카라사이트 ball and prepared 바카라사이트 institution for change, it is over to 바카라사이트 backline to start scoring 바카라사이트 points (delivering it). Extensive communication and engagement, middle manager advocacy, an understanding of change capability and appreciation of 바카라사이트 institutional culture and context will most effectively facilitate change. A failure to recognise 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트se components will see 바카라사이트 ball knocked on and a need to re-evaluate 바카라사이트 initial strategy. Prioritising 바카라사이트m will enable 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 transformation that should futureproof 바카라사이트 university.
While 바카라사이트se principles will help any university transform, 바카라사이트re will undoubtedly be challenges along 바카라사이트 way. The most successful rugby teams in 바카라사이트 world have to adapt to find 바카라사이트ir way to 바카라사이트 try-line. Universities must accept that ambitious change programmes will experience unexpected events. The key is to be flexible but always keep 바카라사이트 vision and objectives in sight.
The team with 바카라사이트 best coaching, forwards and backs that will return from Japan with 바카라사이트 Webb Ellis Cup in hand. For universities, it will be 바카라사이트 ones that best understand how to deliver successful transformation programmes that will revolutionise 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트ir students, staff and academics.
Oliver Peppiatt is a public sector expert at PA Consulting. previously appeared on 바카라사이트 PA Consulting blog.
about PA Consulting’s 10th survey of UK higher education vice-chancellors.
