Strategic Research and Opportunity Assessment are the core elements of the STRATUS approach. All of our engagements begin with them.
Strategic Research
The purpose of Strategic Research is to gain a clear understanding of the institution and its external environment.
The depth and breadth of Strategic Research and Opportunity Assessments are tailored to match the needs of the institution. They can be targeted, such as when planning a specific program or project, or addressing an issue of particular importance to the future of the institution. They can be comprehensive, such as when they are a part of a Strategic Planning and Positioning or Campus Master Planning process.
The primary elements of Strategic Research are:
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Environmental Scan: Whether in preparation for a comprehensive planning process or planning a specific program or project, STRATUS studies the general forces and trends facing higher education, with emphasis on forces and trends that will have the greatest implications for the institution.
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Specialized Research: STRATUS conducts research on specific issues and questions of particular importance to the institution. We place particular emphasis on implications and options that the institution can take into consideration to address the findings.
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Competition Analysis: STRATUS studies competitors and aspirational peers to determine where they are successful and where there are opportunities to offer programs that are different from, complement, or surpass the competition.
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Best Practices: STRATUS continually identifies models of successful programs and projects across all areas of the institution. And, we augment this with best practice research in areas of specific interest to the institutions. Results of our best practice research include descriptions of model programs and better-than-best options—improvements to the best practices that will create an even better model.
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Benchmarking: STRATUS specializes in benchmark research on key performance indicators, space, and funding.
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Opportunity Assessment
The Opportunity Assessment connects the results of the Strategic Research in creative ways to identify strategies, programs, and projects that result in quality, distinction and competitive advantage.
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