Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU To sink or swim: Steering your team and subject through uncharted territory

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU ASPECTS THAT WILL BE COVERED Changes experienced by the languages team at SHU Changes experienced by the languages team at SHU Drivers for change Drivers for change Decisions taken and their consequences Decisions taken and their consequences Staff/HR issues Staff/HR issues Phases Phases Management model Management model

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Starting point: Internal and External Relatively stable external situation Relatively stable external situation Fragmented provision Fragmented provision Fragmented staff group Fragmented staff group Emerging new school (School of Business and Finance) and consolidation of subject areas – creation of the languages subject group Emerging new school (School of Business and Finance) and consolidation of subject areas – creation of the languages subject group

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Initial Main Driver Creation of a new school with coherent subject groups Creation of a new school with coherent subject groups Internal focus Internal focus Challenges and opportunities for the emerging languages subject group Challenges and opportunities for the emerging languages subject group

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Subsequent Drivers for Change Changes to HEFCE funding Changes to HEFCE funding Need for cost-effective provision Need for cost-effective provision Consequences Consequences

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Re-integration of graduate school Driver: financial Driver: financial All staff need to re-apply for their posts and roles All staff need to re-apply for their posts and roles Consequences for the university, school and subject group Consequences for the university, school and subject group

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Voluntary severance (1, 2 and 3) Driver: financial Driver: financial Consequences for school and subject group Consequences for school and subject group

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU University re-structuring (1) Driver: external (positioning for growth) Driver: external (positioning for growth) Consequences for subject group within the new faculty structure Consequences for subject group within the new faculty structure Additional factors: recruitment, changes to faculty provision, staff expertise Additional factors: recruitment, changes to faculty provision, staff expertise

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU University re-structuring (2) Re-development programme Re-development programme Driver: Image and facilitation of larger process Driver: Image and facilitation of larger process Staff expertise Staff expertise New areas of work New areas of work

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Phases (1) Background: constantly and continuously changing internal and external environment Background: constantly and continuously changing internal and external environment Phase 1: Recognition and perception of situation by university, school/faculty, subject group Phase 1: Recognition and perception of situation by university, school/faculty, subject group - Denial of situation - Denial of situation - Optimism vs. pessimism vs. realism - Optimism vs. pessimism vs. realism - Utilisation of the situation - Utilisation of the situation

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Phases (2) Phase 2: Formulation and acceptance of solution by university, school/faculty, subject group Phase 2: Formulation and acceptance of solution by university, school/faculty, subject group - Engagement with proposed solution - Engagement with proposed solution - Honesty - Honesty - Leading by example - Leading by example - Understanding feelings and attitudes - Understanding feelings and attitudes

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Phases (3) Phase 3: Positioning of the subject and the subject group within the faculty/the university and externally Phase 3: Positioning of the subject and the subject group within the faculty/the university and externally - Threat to the subject - Threat to the subject - Subject's image and purpose - Subject's image and purpose - Subject group's image - Subject group's image - Interrelationships and networking - Interrelationships and networking

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Phases (4) Phase 3: Maintaining the drive of the subject group for its subject Phase 3: Maintaining the drive of the subject group for its subject - Competing priorities - Competing priorities - “Braindrain” - “Braindrain”

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Management model David Boddy: Management, 2005 Non-linear system Non-linear system -The organisation is a complex open system, constantly influenced by, and influencing, other systems. Intended actions will often be diverted by external events or by the internal political and cultural processes. -The organisation is a complex open system, constantly influenced by, and influencing, other systems. Intended actions will often be diverted by external events or by the internal political and cultural processes.

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Management model David Boddy: Management, 2005 The environment is changing too rapidly for management to understand it and to develop a detailed strategy. By the time a strategy is implemented the environment will have changed. The environment is changing too rapidly for management to understand it and to develop a detailed strategy. By the time a strategy is implemented the environment will have changed.

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Management model David Boddy: Management, 2005 Actions lead to unexpected consequences, which can be either positive or negative. Actions lead to unexpected consequences, which can be either positive or negative.

Gudrun Myers - Subject Leader for Languages, SHU Manager's role to be honest to be honest to listen to listen to be realistic and opportunistic to be realistic and opportunistic to seek out allies to seek out allies to be resilient to be resilient to keep doors open to keep doors open to remain optimistic and forward looking to remain optimistic and forward looking