From SMT to MIS: Creating successful dashboard projects

Russell Pearson

Sharon Batchelor

Russell Pearson - Background

• In the FE sector for 24 years & as a Consultant for the last 6

• Started off as an Computing Lecturer in the 80’s

• From 1997 – 2009 a Senior Manager in 3 different FE Colleges covering the curriculum, ILT & MIS initially and then moving onto Finance & Resources

• 2009 to Present – FE Consultant, some highlights include

• AoC Create ‘Sector Management College’ programmes – writing & delivering modules on Finance and MIS for 5 years to over 200+ middle managers

– Reviews of Finance & MIS systems etc.

• Click CMS– Interim Director posts in ICT , MIS & Finance

• Protocol – Interim Director of MIS & review of staffing, systems, processes & reporting

– Dynistics Dashboard Project Implementation Manager at Bolton Community College

• RMAP Consulting Ltd– Dynistics Dashboard Project Implementation Manager at a large West London College

Key elements to a successful project

• Stakeholder Buy In

• Keeping the project on track

• Maintaining Momentum

• Increasing adoption

Stakeholder Buy In: The Issues

• Changing mind-sets

• MIS ‘resistance’ – existing reports not good enough?

• Transparency of information and accountability

Stakeholder Buy In: The Resolution

• Base Project on Key Business Drivers

• Meet with Curriculum Management

• Set Up Dashboard Implementation Group (Strategic)

• Set Up Dashboard Delivery Group (Operational)

• 2 Phase Project Implementation Plan

Phase 1

Identify• The rationale• Expectations for SMT, managers and staff• Impact on SMT, managers and staff• Project scope to include ethos (6 steps)and rollout• Resources required- staff and physical • Dashboard Functionality• Groups and Levels (permissions for visibility and hierarchical tiers)• Scoping meetings (e.g. Set up 1:1 meetings with KPI leads, each

stakeholder, business managers)• Identifying KPIs, data sources and priorities• Set a delivery deadline – e.g. Governors meeting, OFSTED visit etc

Phase 2

• management feedback - listen

• Identify milestones

• Build in additional suggestions/ feedback from phase 1

• Re-engage with those stakeholders

Keeping Up Momentum

Communication

• Weekly reviews via DDG

• Monthly DIG meetings and attendance at SMT and CMT meetings

• 2-3 weeks in – initial dashboard rollout to build and keep interest

• Ensure manager’s requests are incorporated

• Feedback

Increasing Adoption

• Corporate feel to dashboards - not just disparate items

• Consistency of graphs, charts etc for user friendly, fast adoption

• No more than 3 clicks or drill downs to end data

• Include more complex (good) reporting services report as final 4th click

Streamlining Dashboard Projects - Tools

• Example Dashboards

• Pre Implementation Worksheets

• End User Navigation Videos

• Available on the Portal:

http://support.dynistics.com/support/home