How Agile Strategy Lab is Shaping the Future of Institutional Strategy
At the 2024 SCUP Annual Conference, higher education leaders were introduced to a dynamic and collaborative approach to strategic planning known as Strategic Doing. This agile methodology, championed by the Agile Strategy Lab at the University of North Alabama, provides a framework that reimagines how strategy is developed and implemented.
The session, led by Liz Nilsen, Acting Director of the Agile Strategy Lab and co-author of Strategic Doing: Ten Skills for Agile Leadership, offered attendees a practical model for engaging teams in a focused, outcome-driven planning process.
From Top-Down to Ground-Up: A New Era of Strategic Planning
Traditional strategic planning can often feel hierarchical, with plans developed by a small group and shared top-down. This approach can leave many stakeholders feeling disconnected or unclear about their role in the process.
Strategic Doing changes that dynamic. Instead of relying on static, top-heavy models, it engages teams through accessible, forward-looking framing questions, such as:
- What could we do?
- What should we do?
These questions encourage creativity while grounding discussions in institutional realities, helping teams surface innovative opportunities that align with available resources and core institutional priorities.
Strategic Doing in Action: Collaborating Across Institutions
The session also featured Ellen Koski, Strategic Planning Coordinator at Northern Michigan University, who shared how NMU has embedded Strategic Doing into its campus-wide initiatives. Through this model, NMU mobilized cross-functional teams and prioritized pathfinder projects—smaller, strategic actions that build momentum toward broader goals.
This iterative, hands-on approach enables institutions to move from conceptual ideas to measurable, impactful outcomes more quickly and effectively.
Why This Matters: Agile Strategy for Higher Education
The Agile Strategy Lab’s presence at SCUP highlights the growing relevance of agile strategic planning in today’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape. Strategic Doing isn’t just about planning; it’s about building the capability for continuous strategic action.
By emphasizing inclusivity, collaboration, and iterative development, this methodology helps institutions become more resilient, adaptable, and mission-driven.
Take the Next Step in Strategic Planning
Whether you’re embarking on a new strategic planning process or looking to reinvigorate an existing one, Strategic Doing offers a structured, collaborative path forward.
To learn more about how institutions are applying these tools in real time, we encourage you to read Michelle Kloss’s reflective piece from Carroll Community College, featured by SCUP. Her experience aligns closely with our mission at Agile Strategy Lab and highlights the transformative potential of this approach.
