Module 1: Strategic direction for training institutions MOA – FAO – TCP Workshop on Managing Training Institutions Beijing, 9 July 2012

Objectives (I) To differentiate between mission, business strategy, and business plans as means for providing strategic direction to training institutions. To differentiate between mission, business strategy, and business plans as means for providing strategic direction to training institutions.

Objectives (II) To recognize how several international and national training institutions have developed missions, business strategies, and business plans to guide their activities. To recognize how several international and national training institutions have developed missions, business strategies, and business plans to guide their activities.

Objectives (III) To practice the development of a practical business strategy… To practice the development of a practical business strategy… …for the international training work of the Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) and the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre (HHRRC) …for the international training work of the Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) and the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre (HHRRC)

Strategic direction Effective training centres must know what they want to accomplish and how they are going to do so. Effective training centres must know what they want to accomplish and how they are going to do so. A clear strategic direction enables all members of staff to make good decisions and take appropriate actions. A clear strategic direction enables all members of staff to make good decisions and take appropriate actions.

Strategic direction A clear strategic direction enables a training centre to present a compelling vision of its work to key stakeholders: A clear strategic direction enables a training centre to present a compelling vision of its work to key stakeholders: The ‘parent’ institution; The ‘parent’ institution; Funding agencies; and Funding agencies; and Potential clients. Potential clients.

Strategic direction The process of developing, refining, and communicating missions, business strategies, and business plans can also have a positive impact on the productivity of members of staff in the organization. The process of developing, refining, and communicating missions, business strategies, and business plans can also have a positive impact on the productivity of members of staff in the organization.

Three levels of direction Mission Mission Business strategy Business strategy Business plans Business plans

Mission The mission statement is a clear and concise expression of the fundamental purpose of an organization. The mission statement provides, in just a few words, a sense of direction for what all members of an organization are striving to achieve. The mission statement is a clear and concise expression of the fundamental purpose of an organization. The mission statement provides, in just a few words, a sense of direction for what all members of an organization are striving to achieve.

Business strategy A business strategy is a short description of how a given organization intends to succeed in a competitive marketplace. There are three key elements to a sound business strategy: A business strategy is a short description of how a given organization intends to succeed in a competitive marketplace. There are three key elements to a sound business strategy: Goal Goal Scope Scope Competitive advantage Competitive advantage

Business plans Business plans provide a more detailed overview of what an organization hopes to accomplish, and how it intends to go about doing so. Business plans provide a more detailed overview of what an organization hopes to accomplish, and how it intends to go about doing so. Structure and content of business plans vary according to context. Structure and content of business plans vary according to context.

Business plans For training institutions, business plans should contain forecasts of academic activity and financial results, as well as the analysis of recent performance, target audiences, and competitors. For training institutions, business plans should contain forecasts of academic activity and financial results, as well as the analysis of recent performance, target audiences, and competitors. Key issues relating to marketing, human resources, and information technology should also be described. Key issues relating to marketing, human resources, and information technology should also be described.

Example of strategic direction Continuing Education, University of Calgary Continuing Education, University of Calgary See the Training Manual for See the Training Manual for Background Background Mission Mission Business strategy Business strategy Business planning framework Business planning framework

Activity Brainstorming the elements of a business strategy for the international training activities of the FFRC and HHRRC: Brainstorming the elements of a business strategy for the international training activities of the FFRC and HHRRC: Goal Goal Scope Scope Competitive advantage Competitive advantage

Thank-you. Time for questions and discussion.