UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
1648 – Structure
SUMS consulted with people within Oxford and advised, in the light of the Oxford context and experience
elsewhere, on the role of the Deputy Registrar and the distribution of responsibilities.
1650 – Administration Academic Administration Division
The administrative and communication activities across the Academic Administration Division (AAD)
were reviewed. The assignment focused on the administrative activities linked to Finance and HR activities,
with programme-specific administration and generic administrative activity excluded from the scope. The
assignment considered the support provided by the AAD and the Divisional Officers, with recommendations
made as to the most effective arrangement. Research was conducted to understand the communication
audiences, channels and levels of expertise across the various organisation units which make up the AAD.
1668 – Professional Development Support
SUMS provided Professional Development Support for four middle/senior managers in the Humanities Division.
1683 – Introducing Lean to the Academic Administration Division
SUMS was asked to help the University of Oxford understand the effectiveness of Lean as a process
improvement and change methodology by supporting a Lean pilot in the Academic Administration Division.
SUMS facilitated a review of Fees and Funding Processes related to Scholarships and Bursaries involving the
Graduate Admissions and Funding team, the Student Fees and Funding Team, the Development Office, Gift
Registry and Finance. SUMS conducted a pilot review using a post implementation effectiveness framework
adapted for the pilot. A number of other institutions who had implemented Lean or a similar approach (LSS,
Systems Thinking) contributed to this work. SUMS concluded that Oxford should implement a participative,
facilitated approach to change, that should be based on Lean that should evolve to suit the particular
organisational culture of the institution.
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SUMS Consulting Annual Review 2016