Dr Joseph Asenso, Head of Macroeconomic, Research and Studies Division, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), says collective efforts are needed to implement strategic plans successfully.
“A successful implementation of a strategic plan is not the responsibility of a select few, it is contingent on the collective efforts of every single member on the roll, from management to the lowest ranked person of the organisational hierarchy, “he stated.
Dr Asenso said this at the 2024 Registrar’s Management Seminar organised by the University of Ghana, Legon for its staff.
The Seminar is an annual event for Senior Administrative and Professional employees from across the University of Ghana to deliberate on key emerging issues in Higher Education administration and lessons for impacting on their work.
The theme for this year’s seminar is: “From Vision to Reality: Administrators/Professionals activating the University of Ghana Strategic Plan (2024-2029).”
The two-day Seminar will focus on operationalising the University’s newly launched 5-year Strategic Plan (2024-2029).
Participants will discuss and define interventions to operationalise the strategic plan and priorities that emphasise transformative student experiences, impactful research, faculty and staff commitment, engagement and partnerships, and resource mobilisation and stewardship.
Dr Asenso said the roles and responsibilities of the staff in any organisation which were interlinked must be acknowledged to ensure that all came on board to execute plans.
He said communication was also critical to carry the staff along and making them appreciate the goals of the strategic plan and their roles in its implementation.
Dr Asenso acknowledged that the implementation of a new strategic plan was ‘not a jolly ride’ which could be discomforting especially with the intent to do things differently to achieve stellar results.
He called for adequate allocation of resources as well as man-hours to drive the implementation process to a successful end.
Dr Asenso encouraged management to appoint strategic plan champions for specific actions in the plan that would leave no stone unturned.
He said their roles and responsibilities must be delineated to ensure accountability.
Professor Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, UG, called on the staff, who he described as the engine of the institution, to be innovative and flexible minded and allow ‘cross pollination of ideas’.
He cautioned them against the ‘this is how we do it, we do not do it this way’ syndrome during the implementation of the plans.
Prof Awandare urged them to continually promote inclusivity and ensure that they did not exclude people based on their gender, ethnicity and disabilities.
“We have done quite well to being inclusive to staff and students with disabilities. These are barriers that we intend to break down further in the next five years,” the Pro Vice-Chancellor said.
Dr Collins Badu Agyemang, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, UG, said the management must ensure that its strategy and goals were clearly defined and communicated to staff.
He said it must ensure continuity and management must lead by example whilst encouraging employee development, promoting respect and trust amongst students and administration.
Dr Agyemang advised the staff to adopt continuous learning to increase their knowledge, competence, performance and innovation to leave a legacy.
Mr Benedict Fosu Adjei, Registrar, College of Humanities, UG, said the institution must have an Implementation Plan (IP) to reduce the strategic plans into actions to reach desired goals.
He said the IP would also help management to make decisions and budget, facilitate unit level performance target setting and help develop specific actions, activities to help achieve the strategic objectives.
Mr Adjei said to activate the strategic plans to achieve meaningful measurable outcomes, the staff were expected to align resources, foster collaboration, maintain accountability and identify opportunities for impact.
The College Registrar urged them to monitor progress and adjust whilst implementing the plans.
Over 300 senior administrators and professionals participated in the Seminar.
