Practical Planning – the OPP Practical Planning – the OPP at School / Section Levelat School / Section Level

A Presentation to the A Presentation to the University’s Managers’ GroupUniversity’s Managers’ Group

Robert McCormack, Director, Planning Services

Luke Minchin, Principal Information Analyst

17 August 2006

OverviewOverview

• Overview of the OPP• Relationship of Faculty Plans to OPP• How to Develop Faculty and School

OPPs• Sources of Information / Assistance

Interactive Session to Share Ideas

Why have an Operational Priorities Plan?Why have an Operational Priorities Plan?

• To translate the Strategic Plan into priorities and meaningful strategies for the triennium

• To advance the University’s vision of Achieving International Excellence in a coordinated manner

• To improve the resources available and allocate those resources appropriately

How will the OPP Work?How will the OPP Work?

• The OPP is part of an overall planning framework to translate overall strategy into specific actions at local level

• Planning-budget nexus- budget model has substantial performance component

• Cycle of Planning and Accountability specifies annual timetable of events to monitor progress and refine plans

How was the OPP Developed?How was the OPP Developed?

• Extensive consultation across the University involving:– Senate– OPP Coordinating Group plus four working parties– Faculty consultations– Open Forums– Senior Managers Group– Faculty and School Visits by DVC and Registrar

What is the Operational Priorities Plan?What is the Operational Priorities Plan?

• The OPP identifies a focused and selective set of objectives that are to be given the highest priority across the University over the triennium.

• For each priority (strategic and operational) objective, we have:– key implementation strategies– performance indicators and associated

targets– executive responsibility

What is in the OPP for 2006-2008?What is in the OPP for 2006-2008?

• The OPP documents comprise:– The OPP 2006-2008 document– The Performance Indicators / Targets Schedule – The Faculty Performance Indicators / Targets

Schedule– Implementation Schedules (under development)

• See intranet.uwa.edu.au/planning/PlanServ/OPP_2006_2008

• It is deliberately more quantitative than previous OPP

OPP Strategic PrioritiesOPP Strategic Priorities

• To improve the quality of the student learning experience

• To improve the quality and impact, and productivity of research and research training

• To improve the University’s positioning, reputation and strategic relationships

• To increase and diversify the University’s income, with particular emphasis on general purpose income

• To recruit, develop and retain the highest quality staff, supporting development of their full potential, within a ‘one staff-one University’ philosophy

• To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the University

Performance Indicator SchedulePerformance Indicator Schedule

Provides• Strategic Objective• Operational Objectives• Executive Responsibility• OPP performance indicators and• Associated targets set after analysis of current trends

in consultation with relevant parties

Characteristics of a Good Performance IndicatorCharacteristics of a Good Performance Indicator

It should:• measure progress towards achievement of stated

objective• relate as directly as possible to the desired objective• focus on outcomes not processes undertaken to

further the objective

Note:• Performance indicators are imperfect instruments

designed to measure progress• Deviation from a target should be followed by a careful

examination of the underlying factors influencing the result

What should be in Faculty Plans?What should be in Faculty Plans?

Faculty plans should:• Mirror the structure used in the

University’s OPP• Include relevant objectives from the

University’s OPP with specific faculty targets and strategies

• Also include Faculty-specific objectives, targets and strategies

Presentation of Faculty PlansPresentation of Faculty Plans

• Deans to present their faculty OPPs for 2006-2008 on 28-29 September 2006

• Format– Dean’s presentation (30 minutes)– Discussion of issues arising (30 minutes)– Discussion with Heads of School on

implications for School OPPs

Information / Assistance Available Information / Assistance Available

• Overall & Performance Indicators / Targets – Robert McCormack

• Teaching and Learning - Sue Smurthwaite• Research and Research Training - Campbell

Thomson• Staffing - Bob Farrelly• Resourcing - Scott Logan• Community Relations - Doug Durack• Executive Information System – Luke Minchin

http://www.planserv.uwa.edu.au/eis

Interactive SessionInteractive Session