When a UCEDD When a UCEDD Director Steps, Jumps Director Steps, Jumps or Falls Up, Down or or Falls Up, Down or

AsideAside

Case StudyCase Study• UCE is in a Medical CenterUCE is in a Medical Center• Decision to step aside to pursue other local optionsDecision to step aside to pursue other local options

– Opportunity was not short noticeOpportunity was not short notice– Option allowed leaving directorship but remaining within UCEOption allowed leaving directorship but remaining within UCE

• Latent and Undefined TimelineLatent and Undefined Timeline– First thoughts occurred in 2002First thoughts occurred in 2002

• Strategic Plan in Place that Reflects Institutional Strategic Plan in Place that Reflects Institutional PrioritiesPriorities

• Organizational structure emphasizes strong Organizational structure emphasizes strong middle managementmiddle management

• Coincidence of Recent Events Accelerated PlanningCoincidence of Recent Events Accelerated Planning– New LeadershipNew Leadership– Intensified PressureIntensified Pressure– Promising OpportunitiesPromising Opportunities– Personal IssuesPersonal Issues

• Timed Phase OutTimed Phase Out• Negotiated Exit PlanNegotiated Exit Plan• National SearchNational Search

Some Thoughts Some Thoughts

• Succession planning assumes that a sitting Succession planning assumes that a sitting director has something to say about successiondirector has something to say about succession– Variable across different organizational settingsVariable across different organizational settings– In a medical school, this may or may not happenIn a medical school, this may or may not happen

• Vicissitudes of deaconal oversightVicissitudes of deaconal oversight – Easy way out to appoint from withinEasy way out to appoint from within– Expensive to recruit from outsideExpensive to recruit from outside– May turn on how UCE’s contributions are viewedMay turn on how UCE’s contributions are viewed– For many reasons, the sitting Director may not be able to (and For many reasons, the sitting Director may not be able to (and

maybe should not) discuss options and influence the decisionmaybe should not) discuss options and influence the decision

• Suitable internal successor may not be available, Suitable internal successor may not be available, despite best effortsdespite best efforts

• Internal successor may slow growth Internal successor may slow growth

What is a Director of a UCE What is a Director of a UCE in a Medical School to Do?in a Medical School to Do?

• Best PlanBest Plan– UCE and Institution are on the same strategic pageUCE and Institution are on the same strategic page– UCE has viable middle management structure and UCE has viable middle management structure and

executionexecution– Institution motivated to recruit best leader, whether Institution motivated to recruit best leader, whether

internal or externalinternal or external– Enough time is allowed for the recruitment to occurEnough time is allowed for the recruitment to occur– A suitable recruitment package is availableA suitable recruitment package is available– Transition not coincident with events that might affect Transition not coincident with events that might affect

UCE stabilityUCE stability– The sitting director does not hang around unless askedThe sitting director does not hang around unless asked

• Less Good PlansLess Good Plans– An interim director is appointedAn interim director is appointed– The sitting director is replaced with a “transition” leaderThe sitting director is replaced with a “transition” leader– A compromise candidate is appointed to save money, A compromise candidate is appointed to save money,

resources or timeresources or time– Sitting director hangs around even if askedSitting director hangs around even if asked

A Personal Note:A Personal Note:

“…“…miles to go before I sleep”miles to go before I sleep”