Why Higher Ed Institutions Should Use Annual Reviews to Refocus Their Strategy
Organizational development principles teach us that long-term, sustainable change is achieved through making data-driven decisions, continuously learning and adjusting, and intentionally planning for growth. Which is why an annual review of your existing higher education programs and operations is an essential step in the process for building your institution’s success.
Skipping a review in the planning process puts your institution at risk of repeating mistakes and missing crucial opportunities due to an outdated approach.
In every area and at every level, institutions benefit from looking back at data from the previous year for clues into what adjustments are needed for improvement. From holding project retrospectives and conducting marketing audits to tracking enrollment trends and having individual performance check-ins, regular rituals that facilitate reflection on what’s working and what isn’t encourage continuous growth.
Similarly, creating an annual review process for your degree programs empowers your institution to assess its efficiency while using data-driven insights to build a strategic road map for the future.
Change starts from within. The best way to achieve growth is by being honest about where you are now and where you want to be. At Archer, we go through a robust discovery process with our partner institutions to understand the unique challenges and opportunities their online programs and the institutions themselves face in today’s dynamic higher ed landscape.
Common Pitfalls in Strategy Resets
Strategy resets often simply recycle old plans instead of applying lessons learned. Contrary to what you may think, plans built on evidence from the past are much easier to implement and keep on track than recycled plans. Here are three common pitfalls your institution should avoid when planning for the future.
Pitfall #1: Following Assumptions Over Evidence
When leaders fail to connect data and insights from past performance to future goals, important trends are missed and errors are doomed to be repeated. Analyzing available metrics and assessing risks ultimately leads to more intelligent plans that can increase enrollment and support positive student outcomes. Marrying your intuition and insights with data makes for a stronger strategy.
Pitfall #2: Allowing Siloed Departments to Slow Progress
Honest assessments across functional areas only happen when teams work together. Every corner of the university should be represented in the review process; marketing, information technology, enrollment, financial aid, the registrar, faculty, administration, and leadership all need to be aligned.
This is hard work, but you can start by finding ways to collaborate with a department that you work with regularly and then expand that collaboration to other departments. Look for more opportunities throughout the year for better cross-departmental communication and collaboration.
Pitfall #3: Limiting Plans to the Near Future Without Considering the Bigger Picture
Institutions should prevent letting their short-term tactics override their long-term goals. When you tie your institutional goals to your departmental goals, you create a natural flow of work and have an easier time communicating your successes up the chain of command. By regularly reviewing their goals and assessing if their work is on track or needs revisiting, teams are able to course-correct when necessary — before reaching the end of the year.
Using Postmortem Frameworks for Smarter Growth
Fortunately, there are plenty of techniques that can be used to create an effective review process. Postmortem meetings, data analysis, planning worksheets, and open communication can fuel an insightful retrospective.
When approached with the intent to learn from the past and find areas for improvement, a postmortem meeting offers a crucial opportunity for an organization to reflect on its progress. In postmortem meetings, individuals and teams consider how successful a project or period of time was and pinpoint what to change moving forward. Risk assessments are also particularly useful to help teams prepare for possible enrollment and market shifts in the future.
By harnessing the power of analytics reporting and postmortem agreements, teams can co-create realistic road maps that connect their vision with the institution’s operational capacity. Getting buy-in from all departments by engaging them in cooperative planning gives everyone the chance to discuss their team’s areas of strength and the areas where additional support may be needed.
Institutions that follow Archer’s Good, Better, Best framework are able to get a clear view of where they currently stand and what they should prioritize next to achieve consistent growth.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid common strategy reset pitfalls by first taking account of where you are now and then determining where you want to be.
- By leveraging data, collaboration, and iterative improvement strategies, institutions use proven organizational development techniques to stay competitive.
- Postmortems, planning tools, and governance help leaders sustain their institution’s progress.
Let Archer Support Your Year-in-Review Process
Institutional growth requires a tailored approach, and the path looks different for every organization. At Archer Education, we understand that deep discovery, organizational development, sufficient investment, best-in-class technology, and a laser focus on the student experience are essential.
Are you ready to expand your institution’s online program offerings, elevate your student enrollments, future-proof your teams, or all of the above? Then allow the talented Archer team to support your institution by helping you establish a year-in-review process and uncover new possibilities for sustainable growth.
If you’d like to learn more, contact our team and explore our technology-enabled strategy marketing, enrollment, and retention services today.
