Implementation of a strategic plan within a university college: a practical framework

ABSTRACT

This paper provides an overview of strategic planning’s role in enhancing higher education institutions’ sense of strategic direction and outlining measurable goals. The study particularly reflects the practical experience of setting up a strategic plan within a community college at a Saudi Arabian university, providing academic insight into implementing that plan. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the University's strategic plan implementation required conducting six unstructured interviews and examining a University document. A university can develop a programmatic framework within which to define new directions and programmes and evaluate its own capabilities against those of competing universities. A strategic planning framework can help universities and their colleges identify and follow a five-stage practical planning process. The authors emphasise the importance of actively involving stakeholders in decision-making while developing a strategic plan. This study may serve as a catalyst for further research on strategic planning at other universities.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategic planning
• strategic framework
• college
• university
• higher education institutions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abobakr Aljuwaiber

Dr. Abobakr Aljuwaiber is an Associate Professor of Knowledge Management. He is currently a Vice-Dean of Research and Consulting Institute at Taibah University and used to be a Head of Administrative and Financial Sciences and Technologies Department, and a Vice-Dean at Community College, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Ha has published several peer-reviewed researched papers in international journals and conference proceedings. His research interests focus on knowledge management, knowledge sharing, organisational learning, and communities of practice, strategic management. Dr Abobakr Aljuwaiber can be contacted at: [email protected].