There was an article in the Winter 2000 issue of 'Planning for Higher Education' on this very topic.  This journal is US-based and is considered a 'professional' rather than an 'academic' journal so is not picked up by a lot of bibliographic databases.  It is however online (free!) and has a search facility.  The articles are generally more readable and practical than some of the more theoretical journals.

It's a database web site, so the best way to get to the article is to go to:
http://www.scup.org/ 
On the right hand side of the page you will find a link to the online journal (current graphic has a chess set picture).  Then click on 'Search' and either type 'Balanced Scorecard' into the Keyword search, or go straight to 'Volume  29 Number 2' in the Browse section. 

Other HE Planners may find a subscription handy - it's only $68 per annum or free if you join the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP).  No, I'm not on commission - but it is recommended reading for HE planning news from across the pond!  It's rather biased towards facilities/estates planning, but there are still some good materials on academic and strategic planning.

Mike Milne-Picken
Head of Planning & Performance Review
University of Central Lancashire
PRESTON
PR1 2HE
Tel: +44 (0)1772 892391
Fax: +44 (0)1722 892943
[log in to unmask]
www.uclan.ac.uk/planning

>>> [log in to unmask] 25 July 2002 15:56:50 >>>
Dear colleagues

I am conducting research into the application of the Balanced Scorecard (BS)
in higher education, as a disseration topic for my MBA.  I would hope to
try to answer some of the following questions:

How could the BS be used by higher education institutes?
What strategic objectives could be measured by the application of the BS?
What Performance Measures could be applied as part of the BS?
Could the UK HE sector benefit from the application of the BS, particularly
in a climate where demands for accountability and increased efficiency and
quality are increasing?

I am therefore writing to ask if any institutions have used the Balanced
Scorecard and whether you might be willing to share some of your
experiences.

I know that Elizabeth Maddison has already written to this group asking for
information about performance measurement (copy of her email below) and I
do not wish to repeat most of her request.  But I would be interested to
receive any responses to Elizabeth's request which relate to the BS and
performance measurement.

Thank you

Sheree Gordon
Planning Section
University of Edinburgh



Dear colleagues -

I am currently engaged in a dissertation for an MPA (public sector MBA)
entitled 'University self-study: a case study for the University of
Brighton' and I would be very interested to hear of your experiences/views
in this field.

The dissertation aims to explore the interface between performance
measurement (how we measure what we do) and organisational learning (how we
use what we have measured) in order to support organisational strategy
(where do we want to get to and how do we know we are getting there) in a
UK university.

I know this is an emerging area of interest nationally, as evidenced by the
recent Mike Daniel symposium.

I hope to offer recommendations that strengthen the University's capacity
for self-study, rather than getting bogged down in debate about the
strengths and weaknesses of current PIs, the extent to which
HEI 'performance' is or is not capable of being 'measured' , or the
merits/demerits of published league tables  - and I shall be taking a broad
interpretation of both 'performance' and 'measurement' throughout.

Bearing in mind those caveats, the questions on which I would be
particularly interested to hear from colleagues in other institutions are:

1       do you have a systematic approach to self-study and if so can you
describe briefly        its content and cycle (eg. do you use an off the
self' package like the balanced         scorecard)
2       do you regularly compare performance against that of others and if
so, on what     aspects and what sort of data do you use (eg. do you carry
out systematic  benchmarking)
3       how dependent are you on published measures (eg. HEFCE PIs) or have
you     developed a suite of measures of your own
4       who is responsible for doing this work in your institution
5       which part of the structure takes receipt of the data/analyses (eg.
Board of        Governors)
6       how well do you think what you are doing on self-study captures
organisational  achievement and how satisfied are you with what you are
currently doing
7       can you think of specific examples where 'self study' led to changes
in      practice/provision/strategy
8       what one thing would you like to be available in this area that you
do not currently        have

Of course, any other comments would be gratefully received - ideally by the
middle of September.

Thanks very much indeed.


Elizabeth Maddison
Head of the Strategic Planning Unit
University of Brighton