The first workshop http://www.ncl.ac.uk/digitalcampus/events/ was held yesterday with the intention of starting to develop a University wide IT strategy to support the vision of the University. I am pondering today on the success of the approach (using SWOT analysis) and on the variety of feedback I have received thus far:

• not strategic enough
• too strategic
• too many computer officers there which swayed the weight of the debate
• computer officers didnt have the chance to voice thier collective opinions
• it went on too long

This is the first time (that I know of) that University strategy building has been attempted from the “bottom up”, giving everyone a chance to contribute. The Digital Campus Steering Group are committed to listening to staff and students about what IT services the university should be providing and how we can do it in an efficient and effective manner. There are further challenges to consider such as the  changing way we communicate, learn, teach and research and the strategy must be flexible and agile enough to constantly scan the horizon for new opportunities and be ahead of the game.

So how do we measure the success of the approach? Weaknesses, issues and problems are emerging some of which can be addressed now, so presumably there will be less of those as we move on. People were engaged and animated at the workshop, ticking the box that everyone can contribute. But how do people feel when they leave? That they made a difference? That they were listened to? they didnt get a chance to speak? Or worse case scenario…… that it was a waste of time and things are set in stone (absolutely not the case).

Comments please…..