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Operating model design

University operating models face mounting and sustained pressure, from the squeeze on international student recruitment to the real-term drop in the value of fee income and the impact of inflation in your operating costs.

Expenditure is often outstripping income. This isn’t sustainable and it demands not just crisis management but actual reform.

No institution has an infinite pot of money and so you need to make informed choices about what services you will provide, to what level of quality and in pursuit of what ROI.

That’s what designing a future-proofed operating model can do for you.

We will partner with you to create an approach which is rooted in best practice and also accounts for your own unique circumstances.

Our approach

understand your current model

deep-dive into your data for trends, performance metrics and comparisons

build the case for change

create future state blueprints and service delivery models, assessing appetite and practicality

mobilise and implement the agreed change programme

Our expertise

Our consultants and practitioners have experience of end-to-end support on a small and large scale, from small-scale maturity reviews and opportunities analysis, through to full partnership in transformational multi-year programmes. Our priority is to deliver tangible solutions which offer you the most suitable and pragmatic approach for your needs.

We also run a community of practice group so that our members’ organisation design practitioners can learn from each others’ expertise and increase their knowledge and capabilities.

Examples of our work and impact

Target Operating Model, Cardiff University

We shaped and delivered a comprehensive target operating model design programme. This began with a performance diagnostic to identify high-potential areas to optimise cost, quality and satisfaction metrics. Then we worked with leadership teams to design principles and capabilities. The end result was articulated future states across all service areas and a plan for functional alignment.

Professional Services Review, University of Oxford

SUMS provided impactful, cross-institutional insight to inform the future of professional services. We analysed the strengths, deficits and costs of their existing provision and made evidence-based recommendations for operating model reform.

TOM Lessons Learned Audit, University of Reading

We conducted a post-implementation audit of a major efficiency and effectiveness review, verifying the impact of changes across people, process, systems and data. We made multiple recommendations for application within future change programmes, all of which were signed off by the Executive Board.

Find out more

Here are a few examples of how we have helped other organisations and how we can help you.

insight

Transformational change through co-creation of a Target Operating Model

Partnering with internal teams in scoping, developing and implementing a new operating model for pro…