Strategic Planning and Programme Execution in Higher Institution
Introduction
Currently, all of the industries and sectors in the world are being affected by different macro- and micro-environmental factors which influence how an organization perform and acquire competitive advantage. The said situation can also be observed in the education sector. These changes offered both opportunities and threats towards the overall performance and operation of different educational institution in the world, particularly those countries that are being affected by financial crisis. This study will evaluate and assess the current strategic planning and programme execution in higher institution.
Literature Review
History of Strategic Planning
The earliest form of strategic planning has been always attributed to the military as far back as the early Greeks. The use of strategic planning in military would continue through the 2,000 years which lead to World War II that served as the impetus for shifting strategic planning into the business sector. There, strategic planning evolved as management tool which allow organizations to develop and implement plans in order to meet the challenges from the external environmental conditions, at the same time ensure both organizational survival and a competitive advantage (Forest & Kinser 2002).
Strategic Planning in Higher Education
The crossover of the strategic planning from business to education can be traced to changes that have occurred in the educational sector during the 1980s and the 1990s. During that time, the institutions were facing new and emerging environmental challenges including the changing demographics, decreased funding, increased competition and the rapid changes due to technological advancement, which required educational institutions to shift from long-range planning process to a focus on organization strengths and weaknesses as they related to the environment, particularly to their competition. As a result, the institutional goals shifted toward focusing on results, and the focus was placed on establishing a market niche by refining the primary mission of the institution, defining the market and development strategies that would help in order to give the institution a comparative advantage to the market niche (Forest & Kinser 2002).
Statement of Purpose
The main aim of the study is to evaluate and assess the strategic planning and programme implementation in higher institution in Nigeria. In line with this, the following are the objectives of the study:
· to present the changes and development in strategic planning and programme implementation in higher institution in Nigeria;
· to investigate the different processes that are involved in strategic planning and programme implementation in higher institution in Nigeria;
· to investigate the different individuals or groups that are connected with the planning and implementation of programme in higher institution in Nigeria; and
· to recommend activities that will improve the current strategic planning and programme implementation in Nigeria.
Methodology
Research Strategy
The research strategy that the study will utilize is the descriptive method. A descriptive research intends to present facts concerning the nature and status of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study (Creswell, 1994). It is also concerned with relationships and practices that exist, beliefs and processes that are ongoing, effects that are being felt, or trends that are developing. (Best, 1970) In addition, such approach tries to describe present conditions, events or systems based on the impressions or reactions of the respondents of the research (Creswell, 1994).
This research is also cross-sectional because of limited time. This research is a study of a particular phenomenon (or phenomena) at a particular time. (Saunders et al, 2003) Accordingly, cross-sectional studies often employ the survey strategy, and they may be seeking to describe the incidence of a phenomenon or to compare factors in different organizations.
Data Collection
The survey method, also known as the questionnaire method, will be used in gathering the data for this study.
Surveys are the most common form of research method for collection of primary data (Commonwealth of Learning, 2000). One of its purpose is to describe, e.g., to count the frequency of some event or to assess the distribution of some variables such as proportion of the population of different age groups, sex, religion, castes and languages, knowledge, attitude and adaption of practices about particular issues, and other information of similar nature about the population (Commonwealth of Learning, 2000).
Sample Frame
This study will gather data from the higher institution staffs and employees. A total of 100 respondents will be selected via random sampling selection.
Data Analysis
The following statistical formulas will be used:
1. Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire.
n
% = -------- x 100 ; n – number of responses
N N – total number of respondents
2. Weighted Mean
f1x1 + f2x2 + f3x3 + f4x4 + f5x5
x = ---------------------------------------------;
xt
where: f – weight given to each response
x – number of responses
xt – total number of responses
References
Best, J.W. 1970, Research in Education, 2nd Ed, Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Creswell, J W 1994 Research Design. Qualitative And Quantitative Approaches, Sage, Thousand Oaks, California.
Forest, J & Kinser, K 2002, Higher Education in the United States: An Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO.
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