Outside Opinion offers a comprehensive range of strategy and planning services to support organisational change in the higher education context.
Internal Strategic Planning and Review
Strategic planning services are available for universities, faculties, research centres and projects and can be combined and scaled to meet your needs.
Strategic Planning
We work with you to articulate your vision and identify goals, strategies and measures of success. We offer internal and external consultation, workshops, retreats and co-creation sessions. We have expertise at university, faculty, centre and project level and with all discipline groups. Plans may be comprehensive or tightly focussed in areas such as research or academic strategy.
Research capacity building
We offer support and advice for early, mid career and advanced scholars. Workshops and one on one mentoring hone people's skills in framing questions and developing research plans. We work on line and in person. We give concrete help in planning publication and other outcomes, national benefit, impact and open access.
Academic innovation
We are experienced academic leaders able to give you an independent, informed view of how your curriculum offerings compare to emerging ideas and international best practice. We can help build a stronger nexus between teaching and research, through work integrated and problem based learning.
leadership and governance
We have expertise in leadership and governance and are skilled in hands-on strategic planning at university, faculty, school and Centre level. We are experienced mentors and can work with groups or individuals, either in person or on line.
Transformation strategies
We offer strategic advice on the detailed implementation of transformation programs for Universities, Faculties, Schools and Centres. This includes all aspects of research focus and engagement, academic strategy and curriculum, leadership, culture, resource management and operations.
Small and Regional Universities (PDF)
Small and Regional universities have distinctive challenges and advantages and the OO team has wide-ranging disciplinary expertise, policy understanding and industry connections, so smaller institutions can reach for the expertise they do not have in house.
retreats, BRIEFINGS AND PLANNING SESSIONS
We run purpose-built workshops and retreats that promote constructive discussion and enjoyable planning. We bring examples, exercises, tools and models. We talk honestly to academic peers and encourage the same response.
ERA
Outside Opinion offers a range of services and advice to help prepare for the next ERA round.
External Review and Analysis
Understanding the wider context, including policy and institutional drivers, partners, stakeholders and competitors is an essential part of strategic planning and innovation.
Environmental scanning and reporting
Environmental scanning is a critical step in strategic planning. Environmental scans link planned changes to organizational structures and strategies with external issues, events and trends. Outside Opinion environmental scans weigh external opportunities and threats against internal strengths and weaknesses. The scans can be used be used to assess: the competitiveness of large-scale funding applications in the pipeline, the viability of established or planned research institutes, centres and precincts, and the effectiveness of internal research investment strategies.
External Review and Benchmarking
We analyse research and leadership capability, structures, performance, opportunities, and risks offering detailed insights and recommendations. Competitor analysis includes research structures and focus, international rankings, ERA, national competitive grants, partnerships and impact.
Industry partnership analysis
We help people to identify potential partners, develop the relationship and build commitment. We offer industry sector scoping and profiling. We show how to use techniques to clarify, engage and persuade. Our tools and frameworks build impact into every project from the start.
Our expertise
To view our team of strategy and planning specialists click here
Brochures
Please contact us for a PDF brochure on Outside Opinion’s Strategic Planning and Review services:
Environmental Scanning Brochure (PDF)
ERA 2023 Brochure (PDF)
Small and Regional Universities (PDF)
Strategic Planning Brochure (PDF)