Our Approach
Lovett Collins recognizes that the needs,
operating environment, and desired outcomes of each client are
unique.
LC typically approaches an engagement
by quickly compiling a base of knowledge of the client environment.
Through an assessment process, LC defines the present state
of a research enterprise in terms of compliance, oversight and
control, suitability of infrastructure, asset utilization, competitiveness,
and perceived value of the current research and scholarly programs
to the institutional goals and strategies. The assessment also
provides a contextual framework to discuss the client's assets,
needs, and desired outcomes.
The subsequent pathway for an engagement
encompasses one or more planning or implementation steps. The
steps are typically consecutive; however, not every situation
requires each step. The needs of the client dictate the components
and the process that LC will follow.
Assessment
The Assessment may be at the level of a research project,
a program, the research enterprise, an institution, or a system.
- A Letter to Management detailing
the findings and a set of recommendations for follow-up
is the usual deliverable of the Assessment phase.
- Recommendations to management may
encompass a range of alternative strategies, cost/benefit
analyses, and estimates of timeline, etc.
- If areas of critical concern are
discovered during the assessment, management often requests
that LC recommends and takes immediate remedial action.
Selection of Alternative Planning
Actions
Again, the needs of the client and the status of the enterprise
will dictate the choice of the pathway forward. The following
alternatives may be undertaken separately or in concert:
- Development of Desired Outcomes.
LC works with the institution, department, or program to
establish a set of expectations or outcomes for research
and scholarly activity that enables its goals and strategic
plan.
- Better Alignment, Performance,
and Integration of Current Assets. To be effective in achieving
desired outcomes, LC partners with the client to integrate
research assets and activities with other institutional
mission elements and to have clear performance expectations.
- Planning for the Future. LC integrates
its client's institutional vision, desired outcomes,
present assets, funding opportunities, and the needs of
key stakeholders into executable programmatic, managerial,
operational, facilities, and financial plans.
- Measuring and Monitoring. In order
to assess incremental improvement to systems or programs,
LC identifies a number of micromeasures easily tracked by
the client. Monitoring these micromeasures over time provides
an indication of the health of the system and progress toward
the desired outcomes.
Implementation
There are a number of options for implementation, depending
on the availability of client staff, the level of in-house
expertise, and/or the complexity of the task:
- The client may wish to proceed
independently.
- The client may wish to have LC
oversee the client's staff to ensure timely completion.
- LC may provide direct management
of the process.
