Strategic Plan

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In the spring of 2001, Clarkson University convened a cross-functional planning team charged with the development of a university-wide Information Technology Strategic Plan. A list of team members is included at the end of this document. Facilitation services for the planning effort were provided by Collegis as part of the University's information technology management agreement.

The planning approach that was adapted for use at Clarkson, required the following steps¹:

• Development of a vision for the use of information technology within the University.
• Development of planning assumptions which detail the environment in which the University currently exists.
• Development of key value statements or guiding principles that should govern the decisions and actions of the organization and are aligned with the Clarkson vision, mission and goals.
• Development of goals and strategies to enable the organization to move forward toward its desired future state in accordance with the guiding principles.

The Clarkson University Information Technology Strategic Plan is meant to reflect the vision, planning assumptions, key directions, goals and strategies for the use of information technology throughout the University. As such, its adoption has implications for many academic and administrative departments within the University, and not just for the Office of Information Technology.

Since the terms involved in strategic planning are often used differently by different people, the following is a clarification of how strategic planning terms are used within the Clarkson Information Technology Strategic Plan.

• Information Technology Vision - The desired future state for the use of information technology across the institution.
• Information Technology Guiding Principles - Key value statements that should govern the decisions and actions of the organization with regard to acquisition and use of information technology throughout the University.
• Information Technology Goals - Long-term, major targets or end results related to the survival, value and growth of the institution.
• Information Technology Strategies - The particular actions or means that will make it possible to achieve the goals.

¹ The planning process used for development of the Clarkson University Information Technology Strategic Plan is a modification of the organizational transition methodology described in Organizational Transitions, 2nd edition, by Beckhard and Harris. This methodology is based upon the principle that:

“ ... a core dilemma for executives and leaders is how to maintain stability in their organizations and, at the same time, provide creative adaptation to outside forces; stimulate innovation; and change assumptions, technology, working methods, roles and relationships, and the culture of the organization itself.” (Organizational Transitions, p. 1)