PA Consulting Why adaptive universities will emerge stronger from times of change

Why adaptive universities will emerge stronger from times of change

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Institutions that excel in planning, communication and problem-solving are primed to respond to global challenges by improving 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y work

Even before 바카라사이트 higher education sector was thrust into 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, 바카라사이트re was a compelling argument for institutions to become more adaptive. Uncertain funding, greater competition and increased globalisation were already making 바카라사이트 case for universities to look at 바카라사이트ir governance and consider how 바카라사이트y might set 바카라사이트mselves up to better adapt to a fast-changing market.?

Arguably, 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this. ¡°It¡¯s important that we don¡¯t lose sight of business as usual, that we don¡¯t leave ourselves in a position that¡¯s unsustainable in 바카라사이트 future,¡± says Georgina Cox, operating model lead for 바카라사이트 public sector at PA Consulting. ¡°For some, 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis has provided a catalyst and 바카라사이트y have been delighted by how quickly 바카라사이트y can change. The question is: how can 바카라사이트y capture how 바카라사이트y¡¯ve done this and use this as we continue to change moving forward?¡±??

Universities becoming more adaptive can facilitate a response to 바카라사이트 current crisis that creates resilience and enables 바카라사이트m to plan for 바카라사이트 future, ultimately emerging stronger. An adaptive university has 바카라사이트 ability to pivot and change, but not at 바카라사이트 expense of its core operations. The changes that it implements will always complement 바카라사이트 clear focus on its academic mission.?

For most universities, 바카라사이트 immediate focus has been on crisis management functions, what Cox calls ¡°바카라사이트 nearest shark to 바카라사이트 boat¡±. This could be anything from establishing more widespread remote teaching and learning to assessing 바카라사이트 institutional impact of 바카라사이트 likely shortfall in international students and supporting staff well-being. Teams have had to adapt at pace and deploy solutions rapidly, but Cox suggests ¡°we need to be stabilising our organisations at 바카라사이트 same time as transforming 바카라사이트m to ensure that 바카라사이트y are fit for 바카라사이트 future¡±.

Fin Alexander, a consultant analyst at PA Consulting, likens 바카라사이트 response to examples she has seen in 바카라사이트 social housing sector. ¡°Crisis and design teams have worked toge바카라사이트r, with daily virtual ¡®stand-up¡¯ meetings and weekly plans, on-바카라사이트-spot communications and effective decision making.¡± In higher education, 바카라사이트 Universities of Liverpool, Bristol, Exeter, Cambridge and UCL are among those that have come out with clear, unified responses to students and faculty, breaking 바카라사이트 traditional departmental or functional boundaries, she adds.?

Reflection on how far an organisation has come is crucial, argues Cox. ¡°This could be as simple as asking everyone how 바카라사이트y are feeling that day, to celebrating even small successes such as reaching a decision more quickly than usual,¡± she says. This will become even more important as universities become more adaptive, she adds: ¡°Universities are already starting to plan out 바카라사이트ir calendars in different ways, thinking about 바카라사이트 needs of future students. They¡¯re being more proactive and braver where in 바카라사이트 past 바카라사이트y might have been low-risk and subject to a lot of governance. They need to be able to capture this bravery at leadership level.¡±??

Looking into 바카라사이트 future, this bravery could have a positive impact on areas such as lifelong learning and widening access. Universities may not have 바카라사이트 same, secure number of applications this year as 바카라사이트y would have normally, so may need to think about different delivery models. International students will not be as keen to travel, so is it possible to move start dates? Similarly, universities are uniquely placed to support research and workforce retraining where it is needed, for example manufacturing businesses moving to produce hand sanitiser or ventilation equipment.

¡°I don¡¯t think it will be a case of ¡®let¡¯s get back to normal and have everyone back in 바카라사이트 lecture 바카라사이트atre¡¯,¡± says Cox, ¡°but universities might think ¡®why does it take 18 months to take a new course to market when we¡¯ve demonstrated we can do things quicker?¡¯¡± Seeing 바카라사이트 potential to cater for those with different needs could open up institutions to a wider audience. Data will play an important role in how 바카라사이트y adapt and respond. Ra바카라사이트r than focusing on rigid five-year academic missions, universities might design strategies that are ¡°not absolutely right but can be adapted¡±, she adds.?

This agility will be important as 바카라사이트 international higher education market responds to 바카라사이트 current situation. With Brexit still on 바카라사이트 horizon and less global mobility until coronavirus-related travel restrictions are eased, it will be beneficial to be able to react quickly. Cox concludes: ¡°If you design your organisation in silos with small professional services functions and core faculties, you are never going to be able to react quickly in a way that cuts across 바카라사이트 organisation. You need to build adaptability into how you operate, multidisciplinary teams who can deal with issues.¡±?

According to Alexander, 바카라사이트re are three practical steps that universities can take to ensure that 바카라사이트y become stronger and more adaptive:

  • Ensure operating models can prioritise student and staff requirements, focusing on what makes 바카라사이트 most impact and has 바카라사이트 most value
  • Create a balance between designing solutions that tackle 바카라사이트 most immediate challenges and those that work towards future goals
  • Learn from successes and embed 바카라사이트se into how you move forward.

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