Client Case Study
Organizational Renewal in Graduate Education: How One Graduate School Reinvented Itself for a Changing Future
Situation: Organizational Renewal
Graduate schools face increasing pressure from shifting student expectations, technological disruption, changing workforce demands, and heightened competition. While many institutions attempt incremental improvements, some challenges require something more fundamental: organizational renewal.
This academic graduate school was facing a new competitive environment after it had not changed its advanced degrees, operations, or market approach for years.
Leadership recognized that isolated fixes would not address the underlying issues. The institution needed organizational renewal — a comprehensive effort to realign strategy, culture, leadership, and operations with future realities.
During the transformation the president of the institution became ill and unable to remain in the role. The Dean of Academic Affairs was appointed interim president by the board of directors, with no prior executive management experience.
Complications
The newly appointed president inherited a graduate school facing significant headwinds. Fiscal management had deteriorated, core business and operating practices had not been updated for years, and emerging competitors were entering the market with greater resources and stronger market positioning. Recognizing that incremental improvements would not be enough, she sought support to accelerate her leadership transition and spearhead a broader organizational renewal effort.
Approach
Results
In four years:
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