Understanding one's competitive stance in a globally competitive environment provides the requisite awareness to maintain both competitive edge and institutional responsiveness. In this chapter, three case studies are presented to provide examples of ways in which strategic scanning can enhance the academic program development process and how…

This paper describes how various formal planning approaches were developed and applied at Pennsylvania State University. Phases (horizontal reduction, vertical reallocation, strategic planning, and strategic management) are identified as are principles including planning for change on the margins and continuity, providing for feedback, and…

A program focusing on recruitment of new freshmen at the University of Colorado at Boulder illustrates some major planning considerations in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a marketing plan. (MSE)

Given the limited resources available for planning, at times the choice must be made whether to concentrate analytical studies on internal functioning or on the external environment. Describes how the planning focus of the University of Massachusetts (Boston) responded to external conditions. (Author/MLF)

A case study of Arapahoe Community College's marketing research approach to program planning illustrates a range of techniques for heightening alertness to new markets, exploring rising opportunities, and sometimes, quantifying the attractiveness of alternatives. (Author/MSE)

An analysis of higher education marketing examines a case study of a college's market research program, a series of market research projects, and a major study of students and parents in six metropolitan areas (the Six-Market Study). After introducing marketing concepts and strategies, the nature of higher education marketing is considered. The…

Franklin and Marshall College (Pennsylvania) has used institutional mission, strategic planning, lessons learned from previous experience, and sound general management principles to guide reallocation of resources during a period of financial constraint. The objective was repositioning, not retrenchment, and the resulting academic program is…

At Samford University (Alabama), Total Quality Management methods and tools were used to reorganize the library. The professional librarians formed the quality team. Focus on customer needs and restructuring of staffing and organizational processes have resulted in both quantifiable and less tangible improvements in service and environment. (MSE)

The development of a faculty information system at Carnegie Mellon University is traced using a case study approach. Attention is focused on the process of system design by committee, the resulting relational database, and its impact on institutional research and university reporting. Technical implementation and details of the system design are…

The role of institutional research in the creation and operation of an information center is discussed, along with the ways in which the spread of information centers within higher education is likely to influence the future development of institutional research. Forces leading to the emergence of information centers are advances in computer…

Hoshin, or breakthrough, planning is the Total Quality Management method of integrating strategic planning into the daily work of organizational units. Delaware County (Pennsylvania) Community College's adaptation of the process and its use in daily management are described and presented in the form of a flow chart. (MSE)

Effective utilization of community agents in the marketing process of community colleges is discussed. It is suggested that community-based marketing improves the college's outreach capability and encourages development processes within the community. The various stages of developing community-based processes are explained. (Author/SF)

At Samford University (Alabama), Total Quality Management principles were used effectively to revitalize an ailing nursing education program, through systematic evaluation of teaching, advising, and admissions processes. Faculty, staff, and student involvement and commitment to the quality assessment process were key factors in success. (MSE)

A study examined the extent to which broad indicators of performance could be used for university program improvement. A survey of 356 graduates of a Canadian research university found perceived teaching quality contributed significantly to ratings of overall academic program quality. The most frequently mentioned meaningful feature was…

Reported are the execution and outcomes of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) Performance Funding Project at Tennessee Technological University, a pilot project seeking to explore the question of whether it is desirable and possible to allocate state funds to community colleges and universities on a performance effectiveness…