The University of Texas at Austin has embarked on an ambitious 10-year strategic plan to improve the university’s positive impact on the world. The Transformation & Strategy Office is guiding the Change Starts Here strategic plan, which is comprised of 42 initiative areas organized into the three categories of people, place, and pursuits.
In the following conversation transcribed below, Rick Ortiz, Executive Director for Governance & Engagement for the Transformation and Strategy Office, was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. His answers not only shed light on Change Starts Here, but also provides useful insight into strategic planning in general for all leaders. We encourage everyone in the UT-Austin community to keep informed about Change Starts Here so that we can all help be a part of increasing our positive impact on the world.
UT Learning & Development: What is the TSO (i.e., what is the mission or what are you charged to do?)
Rick Ortiz: The mission of the TSO (Transformation and Strategy Office) is to make the vision of Change Starts Here a reality. In essence, it is charged with the planning, execution and delivery of university-wide strategic change.
L&D: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced with the strategic planning process for UT?
RO: As our team likes to say, the biggest challenge we had during the strategic planning process was we were building the plane while flying it. UT Austin is large, complex and dynamic, and historically it has been highly decentralized. Change Starts Here has given all of us a strong central purpose, but there is still a lot happening independently across campus. During the strategic planning and execution process, we faced challenges that included our inability to see the full picture of everything going on in the university, getting university-wide buy in, integrating and synchronizing cross-campus efforts, creating interdepartmental collaboration, managing limited resources and changing organizational design and culture.
L&D: What are you most excited about in the UT Strategic Plan?
RO: To me, the most exciting thing is the idea that becoming the “highest-impact public research university” translates to truly immeasurable opportunities for our students, faculty and staff and our Nation. I am humbled and thrilled to help drive this transformational aspiration. What is most special to me is that I am part of the Longhorn team that is doing this great work and winning together!
L&D: If you had to choose just one piece of advice for leaders about strategic planning, what would it be?
RO: Don’t think of what is…think of what could be!
L&D: What can you tell us about the strategic plan that very few people know yet? Or, what do you wish more people knew about the Strategic Plan that they don’t seem to be aware of yet?
RO: I want to reassure people that Change Starts Here will not only relevantly change our future for the better; it will also fix today’s challenges, if we do it right.
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