Change Management

Change Management and Good Governance Directorate

Overview

The Change Management and Good Governance Directorate is a pivotal entity within the university, accountable to the President. It plays a crucial role in steering the university toward strategic transformation and excellence in governance. The Directorate’s primary mandate is to design, implement, and oversee change initiatives that are aligned with the university’s mission, ensuring these initiatives are seamlessly integrated into the university’s operations and culture. The Office handles this huge responsibility following two major approaches. The first approach focuses on employs a structured and systematic approach to change management, ensuring that every initiative is well-planned, executed, and monitored. This involves rigorous situational analysis, risk management, and continuous updating of strategies to respond to evolving challenges and opportunities.

The other approach will aim at working towards integrating stakeholder engagement. Recognizing that successful change requires buy-in from the entire university community, the Directorate places a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement. Through regular communication, training, and collaborative planning sessions, the Office ensures that faculty, staff, and students are not only informed but also actively involved in the change processes.

Strategic Vision

The Change Management and Good Governance Directorate envisions a university where continuous improvement, effective governance, and strategic transformation are ingrained in every aspect of its operations. The Directorate seeks to be a catalyst for positive change, enhancing the university’s ability to adapt to internal and external challenges while maintaining the highest standards of governance and accountability.

Mission

The mission of the Change Management and Good Governance Directorate is to drive and support transformative change across the university by developing, implementing, and overseeing strategic initiatives that promote good governance, accountability, and sustainable growth. The Directorate is committed to fostering an environment where change is embraced, and where all members of the university community are actively engaged in the process of continuous improvement.

Core Values

  • Integrity: Upholding the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all change management and governance activities.
  • Collaboration: Promoting teamwork and open communication across the university to ensure the successful implementation of change initiatives.
  • Excellence: Striving for the highest levels of quality and effectiveness in all efforts to manage change and governance.
  • Accountability: Ensuring that all change processes are conducted with responsibility and that outcomes are measurable and aligned with the university’s strategic goals.
  • Innovation: Encouraging creativity and new ideas in the development and implementation of change management and governance strategies.

Objectives

  1. Develop and Implement Targeted Change Initiatives: Create and oversee initiatives focused on change directions, implementation, communication, training, and risk management to ensure successful transformation.
  2. Continuous Strategy Development: Regularly update the change management and good governance strategy based on ongoing situational analysis and impact assessments.
  3. Establish Standards and Procedures: Develop and maintain strategies, rules, procedures, and standards for managing change and good governance effectively.
  4. Integrate Change into Strategic Plans: Ensure that change management and good governance activities are integrated into the university’s plans as structured projects.
  5. Foster a Culture of Engagement: Coordinate cultural and procedural changes to maximize the contributions of the university community, ensuring robust engagement and successful change implementation.
  6. Celebrate Success: Develop mechanisms to reinforce and celebrate successful change initiatives, fostering a positive and progressive environment.
  7. Oversee and Support Change Implementation: Monitor the implementation of change plans and provide guidance to process owners to ensure objectives are met.
  8. Enhance Communication and Collaboration: Liaise with all relevant bodies to maintain active and progressive working relationships in the initiation, implementation, and management of change.
  9. Evaluate and Revise University Structures: Assess the efficiency of the university’s structure and recommend revisions to ensure optimal governance and operations.
  10. Support Strategic Leadership: Work closely with the university leadership to guide strategic change management in alignment with both internal and external developments.

Organizational Structure

The Directorate is composed of three main offices:

  • The Director’s Office: Headed by the Director, who is also a member of the University’s Management Council.
  • The Experts’ Offices: Includes three experts one senior and two junior experts, focusing on change management and good governance.
  • The Secretary’s Office: Provides administrative support, along with a messenger to assist in communication and logistical tasks.

This structure enables the Directorate to effectively manage its responsibilities and support the university’s overall mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities of the Directorates are to:

1) Develop a set of implementable and targeted change management and good governance initiatives in terms of change directions, implementation, communication, training, and risk management;

2) Develop and update a change management and good governance strategy based on continuous situational analysis, awareness raising and impacts resulting from the change;

3) Set strategies, rules, procedures and standards of managing change and good governance;

4) Integrate change management and good governance activities into respective plans as a project;

5) Develop, apply, and update a structured change management and good governance approach and methodology for the overall change plans and people management;

6) Create a reinforcement mechanism to celebrate success;

7) Oversee the implementation of all change plans/desired objectives and advise and assist the process owners to fulfill their respective roles in programs of change;

8) Coordinate changes of culture, approach, systems and processes creating a robust engagement and maximizing contributions of the University community;

9) Initiate and lead the development of change-oriented tools and their publications and ensure that these tools are updated as and when appropriate;

10) Liaise, and maintain active and progressive working relationships with all concerned bodies in terms of initiating, implementing, managing change and communication endeavors;

11) Ensure adherence and consistency of the change plan and projects and in case of alteration confirm and endorse the overall change management process;

12) Initiate and coordinate institutional transformation activities;

13) Evaluate the efficiency of University structure and present structure that need revision to the University management;

14) Work with and support the University leadership in strategic change management directions in line with internal and external developments; and

15) Perform any other duties as may be required

Future Ambition to Meet Directorate Targets

The Change Management and Good Governance Directorate aspires to elevate the university to a position of leadership in higher education, distinguished by its commitment to continuous improvement, effective governance, and strategic innovation. To achieve this, the Directorate has set forth several future ambitions:

  1. Enhanced Integration of Change Initiatives: The Directorate aims to develop more sophisticated tools and methodologies to integrate change initiatives seamlessly across all levels of the university. This includes leveraging technology to streamline processes and enhance communication, ensuring that change efforts are both efficient and effective.
  2. Leadership in Governance Practices: The Directorate plans to position the university as a model of good governance within the higher education sector. This involves not only adhering to best practices but also pioneering new approaches to governance that can be shared with other institutions, thereby contributing to the broader academic community.
  3. Strengthening Capacity Building: Future efforts will focus on building the capacity of university staff and leadership to manage change effectively. This includes comprehensive training programs, leadership development initiatives, and the creation of a knowledge-sharing platform to disseminate best practices in change management and governance.
  4. Proactive Risk Management: The Directorate intends to enhance its risk management strategies by developing more proactive measures to anticipate and mitigate potential challenges. This includes implementing advanced analytics and forecasting tools to identify risks early and adjust strategies accordingly.
  5. Fostering a Culture of Innovation: The Directorate is committed to embedding a culture of innovation across the university. Future initiatives will encourage creativity and experimentation, ensuring that the university remains at the forefront of educational and governance practices.

Customers and Stakeholders Expectations

Customers and Stakeholders:

  • University Leadership: The university’s management council, including the President, expects the Directorate to provide strategic guidance and support in navigating complex change processes, ensuring that the university’s strategic goals are met.
  • Faculty and Staff: Faculty and administrative staff expect clear communication, adequate training, and support throughout the implementation of change initiatives. They look for the Directorate to facilitate a smooth transition during changes, minimizing disruptions to their work.
  • Students: Students expect that changes led by the Directorate will enhance their educational experience, improve access to resources, and ensure that the university remains competitive and forward-thinking.
  • External Partners: These include industry partners, government bodies, and accrediting organizations that expect the university to maintain high standards of governance and accountability, as well as to remain aligned with broader societal and economic goals.

Customers’ Expectations:

  • Transparency and Accountability: Stakeholders and customers expect the Directorate to operate with high levels of transparency and accountability, ensuring that all change initiatives are communicated clearly and that their impacts are measured and reported.
  • Consistency in Quality: There is an expectation that the Directorate will maintain consistent quality in its change management processes, ensuring that all initiatives align with the university’s vision and values.
  • Inclusive Participation: Customers expect that the Directorate will engage all relevant parties in the change process, ensuring that their voices are heard and that the initiatives reflect the needs and aspirations of the entire university community.
  • Timely Implementation: There is a strong expectation for the Directorate to deliver on its promises in a timely manner, ensuring that change initiatives are implemented efficiently without unnecessary delays.

By addressing these expectations and pursuing its future ambitions, the Change Management and Good Governance Directorate will not only meet its targets but also significantly contribute to the university’s long-term success and reputation.