JISC

The University’s Medium Term Strategy (MTS), sets out a transformational agenda for a world class university. It spans 2007 – 2017 and is underpinned by a series of supporting strategies, including the Information (ICT) Strategy. The Information Strategy was developed using the integrated ICT strategy model outlined in the SICT toolkit, ensuring business unit needs were understood, but also informing the development of the MTS itself.

Annual delivery plans (developed by each School and Service) are reviewed by the Strategic Development Service (SDS) to ensure a cohesive approach to the achievement of this critical agenda. The core objectives of the MTS remain constant throughout its life span; however the supporting strategies are reviewed on a bi-annual basis, providing an opportunity to incorporate emerging strategic priorities.

The key institutional issue for UCLan is to undertake the bi-annual review of its supporting strategies in the context of the significant changes in our environment. This will enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the needs of our business units, improve decision making relating to institutional and ICT strategy and assure ourselves that unit delivery plans are aligned.

As the ICT strategy is due to be re-visited, we are keen to use the toolkit to evaluate the enablers that identify our level of ICT maturity, review our unitary model approach to the strategic governance of ICT, evaluate how effective our current approach to strategy development is and how we can use this process to become more agile in responding to the needs of the business.

Objectives

The aims and objective of the project are:

• To field test the Strategic ICT Toolkit (SICTT) at UCLan
• To use the Strategic ICT Toolkit to understand UCLan’s current level of maturity in terms of alignment and integration of the ICT strategy to the institutional strategies with a view to assessing how our maturity can be developed further.
• To assess the value of the SICTT to inform the HE sector and help JISC promote the toolkit.
• To provide the JISC Strategic ICT Toolkit development team with feedback suggestions for improvement based on the experience of using the toolkit.
• To disseminate our experience of the toolkit and its benefits within the sector.
• To share our experiences and ‘lessons learnt’ with the wider sector.
• Create a business case for change, enabling UCLan to improve its current ICT strategy development process and alignment with business unit delivery plans.
• Provide a greater understanding at the Senior Management Team level of the benefits of aligning ICT strategies with business needs.
• Establish best practice for the development of the future Information Strategy and for aligning the development of the delivery plans.

Anticipated Outputs and Outcomes

A report on the current situation at UCLan with regards to strategic alignment of ICT, understanding of ICT Governance and EA and understanding of the process for the development of the university’s mission statement and supporting strategies.  The report will include the results of the toolkit, the opportunities identified as well as a business case for the alignment of the School and Service Delivery plans.