Dear colleagues -
I have had some very helpful responses to my previous email about this
topic. There are obviously several of us working on similar problems.
I am sending it again just in case there is anyone else who has recently
returned from their holidays and who might have something to add.
Many thanks.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maddison Elizabeth
> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 5:53 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: University self-study
>
> 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
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