The Human Side of the Strategic Planning Process in Higher Education

The Human Side of the Strategic Planning Process in Higher Education by Robert P. Delprino Society for College and University Planning 2013 100 pages ISBN: 978-1-937724-23-8 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Human Side of the Strategic Planning Process in Higher Education by Robert P. Delprino emphasizes the necessity of interpersonal collaboration, looking in detail at the human qualities required to achieve a fully integrated institutional strategic plan. The author provides a range of techniques to improve the cooperative process at the postsecondary level, many of which may serve to aid in the difficult transition from idealistic objectives to well-thought-out team strategies. Incorporating personal experience, theory, and empirical evidence, Delprino highlights the interrelated roles of the institutions' various stakeholders. Though strategic planning is a multidimensional undertaking, for Delprino, "at the end of the day it is still all about the people" (p. 10). At a time when higher education is driven by concepts such as "institutional effectiveness" and "student learning outcomes," this text does important work in taking apart ornate postsecondary organizational efforts to reorganize the planning process in terms of the importance, and potential, of the individual. The author creates a foundation for understanding how each institutional member might actively participate in and successfully contribute to ongoing initiatives or groundbreaking ideas. This foundation is built on the complex relationships and roles enacted throughout the planning process: the awareness and willingness of the singular institutional member, the connections between the individual and other stakeholders, and the process taking place as the institution's members unite and holistically contribute to change. Over the course of five chapters, the text discusses in detail the process of creating institution-wide inclusion and the possible challenges that may arise in doing so. The idea of institutional members "buying into" the planning process may be met with disinterest, uncertainty, or disdain. However, Delprino, a professor of psychology and faculty trainer at the SCUP Planning Institute, provides expert advice on overcoming potential obstacles and developing a better sense of community among stakeholders. A vital concept is the idea of integrated planning. Defined as the "linking of vision, priorities, people, and the physical institution in a flexible system of evaluation, decision-making and action" (p. ii), integrated planning provides the structure and impetus needed to move the institution toward meeting overall goals and future needs. The theme of integrated planning resonates throughout the text, creating a way for administrators to prioritize institutional needs within the ebb and flow of the collective planning process. Chapter 1, "Change Is a People Process," introduces the essential components of a strategic planning structure that seeks to achieve maximum interpersonal success. Stressing the importance of adaptability within the institutional environment, the author discusses the effectiveness and success of the open-system approach--a framework that considers both the internal and external variables contributing to the postsecondary dynamic. …