Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU)

Problems Solved: Anxiety Over Change, Isolated Innovations, Need to Achieve Enterprise-wide Innovation.		Strategic Focus: Leading/Navigating Change, Crafting/Executing Strategy, Leveraging Technology, Reinventing Processes/Realigning Programs, Discovering Expeditionary Products, Transforming Organizational Culture, Developing Staff and Organizational Capacity, Enhancing Revenues.
Project Team:  Donald Norris and Phil Taylor

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 34 campuses, ranging from technical colleges to comprehensive universities. Beginning in September 2003, Strategic Initiatives was called in to facilitate broad-ranging discussions on the challenges facing MnSCU and to craft appropriate, system-wide initiatives. While MnSCU was undertaking many nationally-recognized initiatives (MnOnline, e-folio), it was not achieving enterprise-wide leveraging of these innovations. The conversations resulted in a series of interconnected expeditions that MnSCU could follow, in parallel to the existing system-wide strategic plan. Dr. Norris was invited to engage meetings of the System's CIOs, CFOs, Provosts, VPs for Student Affairs, and Enrollment Services teams, discussing new strategies and expeditions.

Strategic Initiatives continued to work with MnSCU, supporting four expeditionary "big ideas" that emerged from the visioning and planning activities. These include the creation of a seamless electricity grid for learning. The grid metaphor is a holistic response to the numerous, interconnected needs facing MnSCU institutions. These ideas are being shaped by working groups and Dr. Norris' continuing involvement with MnSCU leadership.  Strategic Initiatives has developed a Change Management Plan which develops a vision, timetable, and change strategy for developing the seamless learning grid over a 10-year period.  Dr. Norris is continuing to work with MnSCU in pursuing this vision.