Future‐Proofing Institutional Research Skills in an Evolving Digital Institution

Information Technology (IT) and Institutional Research (IR) units working together with planning, a focus on collaboration, and a willingness to create partnerships can help accelerate their institution's efforts to improve the data landscape. This chapter includes an overview of the challenges facing these two functional areas, the benefits of a new way of operating together, and the steps leaders from both IR and IT can take to work together to build new relationships across units and their staff. This work derives from a focus on values, beliefs, and actions. Taken together, these strategies, if implemented with care, can establish a solid foundation to support the need to expand, improve, and mature IR's role in the data landscape.

Section: Getting Specific: Challenges Facing Ir and Itmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Collaboration Is No Longer An Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Collaboration Is No Longer An Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Institutional Research and Information Technology: Collaborating for Success

Simon

2020

“…These trainers must be able to translate very technical and complicated concepts into terms that can be easily understood by various audiences. Johnson and Simon (2018) noted that there are a variety of skills needed to successfully educate partners on effectively utilizing data including “training and coaching in data collection, access, use, and interpretation, connecting producers, users, and consumers of data and information both inside and outside the organization, and convening discussions related to information needs” (p. 18). As these may not be typical roles and responsibilities in IR functions, special attention is required during the hiring process for these positions.…”

Section: Differing Rolesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While interrelated to facing the inevitable change, this strategy requires taking a brutally honest view of thoughts, biases, and norms of behavior. IR professionals must adapt and change to remain current with the profound transformations in the digital landscape” (Johnson & Simon, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guiding Principles for Optimal Organization: Options for Successfully Merging Institutional Research and Business Intelligence

Clune‐Kneuer¹,

Klute²,

Chester³

2020

Institutions have many unique cultures and organizational structures that can strengthen or inhibit the planning and implementation of initiatives to enhance data‐informed decision‐making, build supporting infrastructure, and align the necessary human resources. This chapter discusses different strategies for aligning resources and organizing Institutional Research and Business Intelligence functions. Additionally, the authors present the strengths, challenges, and unintended impacts of varying alignment options.

The Evidence Imperative: Reflections on How Volatility and Data Are Reshaping the Relationship Between IR and College and University Presidents

Gagliardi

Johnson

2020

Self Cite

Colleges have access to more data than ever before, and to unlock its full potential, the right culture, processes, and technologies are needed. Given the pressures now facing campuses, the demand for evidence‐based approaches to strategy have intensified. As a result, more attention has been placed on the importance of the relationship between Senior Leaders and IR, which, if fully harnessed, can help to ensure the viability of institutions nationwide. Yet, recent surveys and literature suggest that for this relationship to thrive, more must be done to ensure that IR is considered as an important functional area at a time when data‐informed decision‐making has become increasingly vital. To that end, the purpose of this chapter is to offer ideas for how executives can champion data‐informed decision‐making and the ways in which IR functions must take on greater leadership through an integrated and collaborative approach focused on analytics.