LASA 2 Implementing Leadership Techniques Creating An Exec

LASA 2 Implementing Leadership Techniques Creating An Executive Brie

Lasa 2 Implementing Leadership Techniques Creating An Executive Brief

LASA 2: Implementing Leadership Techniques: Creating an Executive Brief (CO1, 2, 3) Submit your assignment to the M5: Assignment 1 Dropbox by Saturday, April 12, 2014. Success University (SU) is a medium-sized undergraduate institution located in Southern California. SU offers Associates and Bachelors programs in Business, Psychology and Education at their San Moreno campus and online. SU has decided to launch three new programs next Fall. The three programs to be launched are: 1) A Business Certificate in Leadership 2) An Associates of Science (AS) degree in Business Administration 3) A Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in Organizational Leadership The accrediting body of Success University has given the programs their blessing and the School of Business has been charged with launching the three programs. They have created a team consisting of faculty, graduates, admissions staff, student services personnel and a marketing representative from the Corporate Office to assist in the launch of the programs. You are tasked with bringing the team together, apprising them of their roles and responsibilities within the team and mapping out a timeline with deliverables. You are to produce an executive brief of a 5 - 7 pages (not including the title or reference page) that clearly outlines the: Team plan: Your plan to create a cohesive team. Include at least three strategies you plan to use to ensure a unified team. Launch plan: a comprehensive list of steps (at least 6) describing how you will launch the new programs. Goals and Deliverables: Describe the goals you have set for this project and create a timeline with clearly marked deliverables. Evaluation and Monitoring: Explain how you plan to evaluate the progress of your team and individual team members – discuss the key strategies you will adopt to monitor your team’s progress and coach them to success. Examples might include weekly face-to-face meetings or written reports submitted to you weekly by each team member. Implementation plan: How do you intend to implement the launch plan? Discuss how the team will function and their roles during the implementation. Change plan: Create a strategy to deal with potential resistance from all stakeholders involved in the running and delivery of the new programs. For example there may be a concern in terms of increased workload, having to learn new policies and processes and the speed of the planned changes.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Effective leadership and strategic planning are critical for the successful launch of new academic programs in higher education. Success University (SU), a medium-sized institution in Southern California, endeavors to introduce three new programs: a Business Certificate in Leadership, an Associate of Science in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Organizational Leadership. Achieving this requires a well-structured team, clear goals, an actionable launch plan, ongoing evaluation strategies, effective implementation, and a robust change management approach to address potential resistance. This paper outlines a comprehensive executive plan that encompasses these components, ensuring a cohesive effort toward successful program launch.

Creating a Cohesive Team

The foundation of a successful program launch is a unified, motivated, and collaborative team. To cultivate such a team, I propose implementing three key strategies:

1. Clear Role Definition and Responsibilities: Establishing explicit roles for each team member—faculty, alumni, admissions staff, student services personnel, and marketing—ensures accountability and clarity. Using a detailed RACI matrix (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) will prevent overlaps and gaps in responsibilities (Harvard Business Review, 2020).
2. Effective Communication Channels: Regular meetings, whether weekly face-to-face or virtual, supported by collaborative tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams, will facilitate ongoing dialogue. Transparent communication fosters trust and minimizes misunderstandings (Doyle, 2019).
3. Team-Building Activities and Culture: Engaging in activities that promote trust, shared vision, and mutual respect—such as workshops or retreats—will strengthen team cohesion. Developing a team charter that outlines shared values and goals further solidifies commitment (Kotter, 2012).

Launch Plan: Step-by-Step Approach

A structured launch process is essential for seamless program introduction. The following six steps outline this plan:

1. Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct initial meetings with all stakeholders to communicate the vision, gather input, and foster buy-in.
2. Resource Allocation: Identify and allocate necessary resources—financial, personnel, and infrastructural—to support program development and delivery.
3. Curriculum Development and Accreditation: Collaborate with faculty and accreditation bodies to finalize curricula and ensure compliance.
4. Marketing and Outreach: Develop targeted marketing campaigns to attract prospective students, highlighting program benefits and career pathways.
5. Staff Training and Orientation: Provide training sessions to familiarize staff and faculty with new policies, technologies, and curriculum specifics.
6. Program Launch Events: Organize inauguration events, open houses, or webinars to generate excitement and engagement among prospective students and partners.

Goals and Deliverables with Timeline

The project's overarching goal is to ensure the successful launch and sustainability of the three new programs within the academic year. Key deliverables include:

• Completion of curriculum development: by Month 3
• Securing accreditation approvals: by Month 4
• Marketing campaigns launched: by Month 5
• Staff and faculty training sessions: by Month 5
• Official program launch event: by the beginning of Month 6

A Gantt chart visualizing these phases can aid monitoring and accountability.

Evaluation and Monitoring Strategies

To maintain momentum and quality, continuous evaluation is vital. Strategies will include:

• Weekly progress reports from team members detailing accomplishments, challenges, and upcoming tasks.
• Bi-weekly team meetings to review progress, adjust strategies, and address issues.
• Use of project management software, such as Asana or Trello, to track tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities.
• Feedback surveys from stakeholders and prospective students to gauge program attractiveness and effectiveness.
• Quarterly review meetings for overall assessment and strategic adjustments.

These measures enable proactive coaching, support, and problem-solving.

Implementation Framework

During implementation, the team will operate through clearly defined roles aligned with the launch plan. The project manager will oversee overall coordination and communication. Faculty members will handle curriculum implementation, while marketing staff will execute outreach strategies. The admissions and student services teams will facilitate enrollment and orientation processes. Regular meetings and collaborative tools will foster transparency and agility. Adjustments will be made based on ongoing monitoring and stakeholder feedback to ensure responsiveness and successful program deployment (Kerzner, 2017).

Change Management and Resistance Mitigation

Anticipating resistance is essential for smooth transitions. Key resistance sources include increased workload, adapting to new policies, and change fatigue. To address these, a comprehensive change strategy will involve:

• Communication and Transparency: Clearly articulate the rationale for change, benefits, and impacts through town halls and one-on-one meetings.
• Stakeholder Involvement: Engage representatives in decision-making to foster ownership and reduce resistance.
• Training and Support: Offer comprehensive training and resources to ease the learning curve and build confidence.
• Phased Implementation: Implement changes gradually, allowing adaptation time and minimizing disruption.
• Recognition and Incentives: Celebrate milestones and provide acknowledgment to motivate continued engagement.

This approach promotes a resilient culture that views change as an opportunity for growth rather than threat (Hiatt, 2006).

Conclusion

Launching new academic programs at Success University requires meticulous planning and proficient leadership. By assembling a cohesive team, executing a detailed launch plan, setting clear goals and metrics, and establishing ongoing evaluation mechanisms, the university can ensure a successful rollout. Additionally, proactive change management will mitigate resistance and promote stakeholder buy-in. Such a comprehensive approach will position SU for long-term success and enhanced educational offerings.

References

• Doyle, A. (2019). Team communication strategies for success. Harvard Business Review.
• Harvard Business Review. (2020). Building effective teams through clarity and accountability.
• Hiatt, J. (2006). ADKAR: A model for change in business, government and our community. Prosci.
• Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change. Harvard Business Review Press.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. Wiley.
• Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership. Jossey-Bass.
• Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
• McGregor, D. (1960). The human side of enterprise. McGraw-Hill.
• Fisher, R., & Ury, W. (2011). Getting to yes: Negotiating agreement without giving in. Penguin.
• Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.