A Study of the Extent to Which Institutional Strategic Planning Serves as a Guide for Technology Planning in Tennessee Board of Regents Institutions.

Literature indicates that strategic planning is an effective method for serving as a basis for technology planning. Strategic planning calls for the description of resources needed to support the goals and objectives of the plan. From these descriptions, technology planners may develop a technology plan. This study sought to determine, in Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions, the extent to which strategic planning served as a guide for technology planning. In a quantitative survey administered online to 150 invited participants, 92 or 61% responded. Results indicated that TBR schools valued the strategic plan as a method of communicating technology needs. Demographic data collected indicated that there were little to no differences among respondents from two or four year schools or between or among respondents holding different job titles with regard to the value of the strategic plan as a technology planning guide. The study invited open-ended comments for each closed-ended question asked. The questions and comments led to the following conclusions. The budget drives the planning process. Plans are made and priorities set. At budget time, money for technology may be cut, but very little change in goals takes place.The planning process or results of the planning process do not permeate to every level in institutions.Chief information officers know more about strategic planning than chief academic officers or deans/directors/coordinators know about the technology planning process