University activities planning and results monitoring system based on key performance indicators in University

Abstract

At modern volatile times university heads need to work in such a way that would allow "thinking for perspective" using different analysis and prognostication tools. This article is devoted to the description of main principles and planning and control measures sequence as well as activities results control at PSU which is based on key performance indicators. Planning system covers all types of activities and hierarchic level of the university (planning overall university activities, structural unit planning, individual planning for each staff member). Thus allows for motivating staff members towards end results which is directly related to material stimulation and career growth. The right choice of key performance indicator (KPI) is one of the main tasks that lead to good results. This article presents detailed description of main KPIs depending on their source, consequence scope, period of influence on the result, changes options related to the degree of achievability. We see that activities of several departments are mainly evaluated by external environment in the form of ratings and monitoring whereas other departments present KPI which are manly internal. The article contains examples of such departments and their KPIs as well as the roadmap of measures for achieving required KPI level. During the period of PSU activity planning and control system functioning (since 2012) there have been several positive trends (seven out of seven possible efficacy monitoring criteria according to Ministry for Education and Science monitoring). University has also improved its positions in main ratings (39th place in Russian and 5th place in the North western Federal area according to national university rating for 2014/2015). We identified problems that can be encountered, particularly in the field of human factor. The value of this work is related to the fact that it shows PSU experience in creating planning system, KPI choice and university activities control.