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Case Study

The seven dimensions of academic strategy: A systems framework for higher education excellence

By Michael D. Watkins

10 pages

December 2025

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Reference: IMD-2727

Academic institutions face unprecedented complexity from technological change, evolving funding models, diverse stakeholder demands and pressure to demonstrate societal impact. Traditional strategic planning – periodic exercises that typically yield lengthy reports but little change – no longer suffices. This technical note introduces the Seven Dimensions of Academic Strategy, a comprehensive systems framework for designing, implementing and continuously refining strategy in universities, research institutes and academic departments. The framework encompasses seven interconnected dimensions: Impact (vision and purpose), Defining Choices (where to focus and not focus), Core Capabilities (world-class strengths and make-buy-partner sourcing decisions), Portfolio (resource allocation across time horizons), Stakeholders and Value Creation (partnerships and value exchange), Economics and Resources (financial sustainability), and Execution and Learning (organizational systems for action and adaptation). Unlike linear planning models, this framework presents strategy as a dynamic system in which changes in one dimension cascade through the others. Designed for practical application, the framework includes assessment tools that are applicable at multiple institutional levels. Academic leaders, administrators and faculty involved in strategic planning will find actionable guidance for achieving institutional impact in an increasingly complex world.

Learning Objective

Understand how the seven dimensions of academic strategy function as an interconnected system.
Apply the make-buy-partner framework to evaluate institutional capabilities and make sourcing decisions.
Analyze portfolio composition to identify misalignments between stated strategic priorities and actual resource allocation.
Evaluate stakeholder relationships as value co-creation partnerships.
Develop execution/learning systems that transform strategic plans into continuous organizational adaptation.

Keywords

Strategy, Leadership, Decision Making, Academic Research, Systems Theory, Portfolio Management, Capability Development, Stakeholder, Value

Type

Generalized Experience

Available Languages

English

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