May 21, 2021
Future of Strategy Setting & Strategic Planning Scenarios
At the May 21st session, we dove in deep to the “future of strategy setting and strategic planning” at PSU. We did this by playing with another great set of futures tools - scenarios. The recently completed Look Back to Look Forward project and everything we did in this effort fueled our discussion. Now we were really using our futures muscles! We considered how future PSU strategic plans should be like or unlike ones we’ve done in the past. For our collaboratory members, as we geared up to do some specific and focused work on how to think about the “future of strategy setting” at PSU, Laura strongly encouraged us to read this short piece which was among the best she'd read in a while about why new models are needed.
If you wish, please see below to scan the last two strategic plans from PSU’s recent history - they set an important tone and are a reference point for this session - last two PSU strategic plans. When you have a moment, take a look at this piece previously shared in the open channel notes on “why your strategy will fail.” This latter piece is just an important set of reminders of the limits and strategy-fatigue so many feel these days. How do we envision a strategy process that might feel truly transformative and not in the superficial sense?
More . . .
On postsecondary equitable value (EXCELLENT SHORT READ) - Here’s the report and other resources cited (including a policy agenda) from the national Postsecondary Value Commission.
What the covid-19 crisis can teach us about shaping the future of work
A Marshall Plan for rebuilding higher education
Higher education should lead the efforts to reverse structural racism
What will weary faculty most need post-pandemic?
Beyond dollars and sense - the full value of higher ed must be its contributions to social justice
Two specific items about big companies develop internal certificate programs/hiring with no degree:
Google launches three new entry-level professional certificates on Coursera
Salesforce: A lucrative career and no degree or tech required
Prototopia futures (framework)
Speculative futures project: Urban Food Futures 2035