Strategic planning for information and technology in higher education

Many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK are developing Information Strategies. Paradoxically, there is no consensus over terminology and concepts surrounding the issue. Very little research has been conducted in this area and this is reflected in the dearth of literature available on the subject, both practitioner and theoretical. As part of an ongoing research project in the Department of Information Studies at Sheffield University a survey was sent out to four stakeholders in 192 Higher Education Institutions in the UK. The aim of this survey was to explore process, content and use of the two intertwined concepts of Information Strategies and Information Technology (IT) Strategies. This paper focuses upon the data from the survey that illuminate issues relating to the success or failure of IT strategies developed in HEIs and the extent to which this can inform the present Information Strategy formulation process. The following issues are discussed in this context: Ownership, Motivation, Leadership, Organisational Involvement, Coordination, Resource and the Planning Cycle.