The concept of institutional strategy has gained considerable attention in the international politics literature. Although there is a variety of approaches to the definition of institutional strategy, most experts place a great deal of emphasis on the role of leadership. However, some IR scholars have begun to explore the strategic role of international institutions, based on a balance-of-power theory.
International institutions are important because they are able to create rules, monitor behavior, and diffuse norms to external actors. They also provide smaller states with opportunities to influence great powers. These institutions have a material impact on shaping international politics.
International institutions are also key because they contribute to hegemonistic stability. A great power can “lock in” an existing international order by using them. However, they do not always act in a balancing fashion. In some cases, a great power can impose favorable rules through institutions without resorting to military means. This type of balancing is often called “soft balancing”. It is possible for a small state to influence a great power in the absence of direct military engagement.
Institutional strategy is a critical component of success at universities. To understand how to develop an institutional strategy, a university must consider the complexities of its environment. An effective strategy must be grounded in sound principles and include the involvement of multiple stakeholders. For example, universities must communicate with all of their stakeholders and must also provide accurate data. By leveraging data, a university can understand the direction it is likely to travel and make more informed resource allocations.
Institutional Strategy and Analysis helps facilitate strategic planning by allowing an institution to collect and analyze student and faculty data. By assessing performance against targets and identifying strengths and weaknesses, a university can better achieve its strategic goals. At NC State, Institutional Strategy and Analysis is a tool that helps achieve the university’s goals.
As universities face more scrutiny, they are more likely to adopt new reporting and analytics models. However, these methods must be used to maximize their utility. Keeping data up-to-date and accurately tracking performance against target values is essential to an institutional’s success.
The Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy requires eligible institutions to develop an institutional strategy. To meet the policy, an institution must report its strategy to the Tri-Agencies. It must be published by March 1, 2023. There are five main reasons to develop an institutional strategy:
To effectively engage students, an institution must ensure that data is accurate and meaningful. It is also crucial for institutions to understand how the data they collect can be used to improve their performance. When an institution is able to put data to work, it can benefit its students by making them more effective learners. Additionally, it can help them achieve their degree more efficiently.
Lastly, an institutional’s strategy must be aligned with its business model. If an institution does not do this, it will decrease the quality of its institution.
Although it is not a new topic, establishing an institutional strategy is a challenging task. Universities face increased scrutiny and must overcome various barriers in order to produce a sustainable plan.