“How To Keep Someone From Snapping Their Fingers and Making Us Disappear”

1. “How To Keep Someone From Snapping Their Fingers and Making Us Disappear” Client: Charlene Douglas Consulting Firm: A & D, Inc. Report Dated: August 4, 2002

2. Problem • Restricted Funding & Increased Demand (Acad vs Admin)

3. Relation to Strategic Plan • Written into plan to maximize resources • Level playing field • Provide economies of scale

4. Strengths • Success!! • Strategic partnerships with vendors • SUN Center of Excellence for e-learning infrastructure • Work with Educause & SUN to replicate model • Services provided to campuses for little amount of money (total $900K) • External customers (55) with revenues of $300K • Entrepreneurship

5. Weaknesses • Soft Money • Set up as a pilot, funded as a pilot BUT no longer a pilot • One of 5 • SFS • SIS • HR • WebCT • Bb/Prom

6. Opportunities • See benefits of admin systems • Build on PS resources • Work with more scalable platforms • Expand concept that has been proven to work • Assist in moving e-learning to the next level

7. Threats • Funding cut • Things Stay as they are • Level of customer service potential deterioration • Higher cost of products • Vendors • PILOT status

8. Strategies • Take offensive & frame the debate

9. Tactics • Create options • Survey faculty • Identify stakeholders • Combine two “utilities” (move hosting?) • Review mission in light of today’s needs

10. Measure Success • Continue to exist • Continue to thrive • Enough $$ to cover costs • Cease being a “pilot” • Successful replication • Continued high level of customer service • Scalable

11. Recommendations • Incorporated in above – bottom line – forget Acad vs Admin & focus on “Enterprise” systems • Create a plan to move forward • Best defense is a good offense!