Discerning the ContextDiscerning the ContextEducation IPB Education IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield)(Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield)

This is your frame of reference on how the This is your frame of reference on how the planning process is affected by world in planning process is affected by world in which you must plan. You can’t plan a big which you must plan. You can’t plan a big expensive program if you’re working with a expensive program if you’re working with a limited budget on a continuing education limited budget on a continuing education program. You can’t successfully plan a program. You can’t successfully plan a program if the power figure won’t support it.program if the power figure won’t support it.

Discerning the ContextDiscerning the Context

The PeopleThe People Organization OneOrganization One Organization TwoOrganization Two

Discerning the ContextDiscerning the Context The OrganizationThe Organization

Structural FactorsStructural Factors SOPsSOPs Organizational decision-makingOrganizational decision-making

Political FactorsPolitical Factors Coalition buildingCoalition building Power relationsPower relations

Cultural FactorsCultural Factors History and traditionsHistory and traditions Organizational symbolsOrganizational symbols

Discerning the ContextDiscerning the Context

The Wider EnvironmentThe Wider Environment Common Issues with Contextual KnowledgeCommon Issues with Contextual Knowledge

Power is CentralPower is Central Willingness and Ability to Negotiate is EssentialWillingness and Ability to Negotiate is Essential Ethical Practice is FoundationalEthical Practice is Foundational

Obtaining Information About the Planning Obtaining Information About the Planning ContextContext

Techno U.Techno U. You have been asked to lead a program planning You have been asked to lead a program planning

team at a small liberal arts university. The program is team at a small liberal arts university. The program is putting together an associate of arts degree focused putting together an associate of arts degree focused on adult students. Your team has envisioned a very on adult students. Your team has envisioned a very basic program that can be afforded by the learners basic program that can be afforded by the learners you are targeting. The Vice President of Educational you are targeting. The Vice President of Educational Technology has a representative on your team and Technology has a representative on your team and she is adamant that the program must use a new set of she is adamant that the program must use a new set of technology, much of which is unnecessary for your technology, much of which is unnecessary for your program. It is obvious that your learners are being program. It is obvious that your learners are being used to fund this purchase of new equipment. She used to fund this purchase of new equipment. She also insists on including program objectives on the also insists on including program objectives on the ability to use technology. ability to use technology.

Techno U.Techno U. You have spoken to the Dean of the college you’re You have spoken to the Dean of the college you’re

representing and he does not feel he can openly confront the representing and he does not feel he can openly confront the VP, as he needs additional equipment for the traditional VP, as he needs additional equipment for the traditional programs. He asks you to deal with the problem. Other programs. He asks you to deal with the problem. Other members of the team have seen the same thing and are members of the team have seen the same thing and are unhappy with the power play. Two other team members are unhappy with the power play. Two other team members are faculty content experts from the history and english faculty content experts from the history and english departments, who need nothing more in their classroom than departments, who need nothing more in their classroom than an overhead projector. They are ready to go to the Faculty an overhead projector. They are ready to go to the Faculty Senate to air their issues with the planning team. Last year, Senate to air their issues with the planning team. Last year, the VP had a knockdown fight with the Faculty Senate over the VP had a knockdown fight with the Faculty Senate over the mandatory creation of faculty webpages. He was publicly the mandatory creation of faculty webpages. He was publicly reprimanded by the President, who came from the history reprimanded by the President, who came from the history department, for creating an unnecessary interdepartmental department, for creating an unnecessary interdepartmental fight.fight.

What is the Context?What is the Context?

Where is the power in your planning team?Where is the power in your planning team? Is there an ethical dilemma?Is there an ethical dilemma? How might you negotiate this problem away?How might you negotiate this problem away? Is there a political out in such a situation?Is there a political out in such a situation? Could such a situation really exist?Could such a situation really exist?