Implementation Planning Impact

Implementation Planning

The starting point for Implementation Planning was the Strategic Vision, a  detailed description of what the university aspires to be, our priorities, and mission. The Strategic Vision was approved by the Board of Governors at their October 2024 meeting. 

The approach that is taken to Implementation Planning is to create eleven three-year plans to turn the Strategic Vision into action and to produce results. The timeline for these plans was endorsed by the BOG at their June 2025 meeting:

  • Two by August 2025
  • Two by January 2026
  • Three by August 2026
  • Two by January 2027
  • Two by August 2027

Implementation Planning Guidelines

  • Role of Strategic Planning Process Committee (SPPC)
    • Coordination & integration of implementation plans: relationship to each other & Strategic Vision
  • Components for Implementation Plans
    • Support of University Mission
    • Lead and Collaborating Units
    • No more than 5 Objectives + 3-4 Key Results per Objective
      • Objectives are mapped back to Priorities from the Strategic Vision
    • Budget Summary
      • Strategic investments approved by BOG
      • Incremental operating funds
  • Staffing of Implementation Planning Teams
    • Lead (VP, AVP, or equivalent)
    • Members from various divisions (avoid stovepipes) – steering vs. consultation groups

What are Objectives & Key Results?

Objectives

The most important things to be achieved – focused on growth and improvement.

  • Objectives should move the university towards our Vision – not everything is an objective
  • Must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART)
  • Written in 4DX fashion: “From X to Y by date”
  • Some require us to establish baselines
  • Can be revised based on data and analysis

Key Results (KRs)

Critical intermediary outcomes – not inputs or outputs – to achieve an objective (A benchmark or mile marker … similar to Key Performance Indicators or KPIs)

  • KRs should be ambitious
  • Not every KR will be achieved
 

OKRs address what we will accomplish, not how we will do so (i.e., actions)

Demonstrating Progress & Impact

Progress

  • Public Dashboards: Will track progress towards achieving Implementation Plans’ Objectives
  • Complexity & Scale: With 11 plans, eventually we’ll have 55 Objectives (and ~165 Key Results) 

Impact

  • Mapping Up: As noted, all Implementation Plans’ Objectives indicate which of the Strategic Vision’s Priorities they support – to demonstrate alignment •
  • Mapping Down: All 15 Priorities from the Strategic Vision will highlight which Implementation Plans’ Objectives support them – to demonstrate impact