Learn what a strategy is and which ones you should consider developing for your project. A strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim. There are a number of strategies to consider when setting up a multi-partner project. Similar to policies, it is important to document/track who has been delegated responsibility for the development, approval and implementation of strategies. Not all of the UKPRP-funded networks and consortia have all of these strategies, and they may not be relevant to your collaboration. Risk Management Strategy A risk management strategy is key to strategic management of any organisation or project. In PRINCE2, the definition of risk is: “An uncertain event, or set of events, that should it occur will have an effect on the achievement of the objectives. A risk is measured by a combination of the probability of a perceived threat or opportunity occurring and the magnitude of its impact on objectives”. The list of risks associated with any project will be many and varied. A multi-partner, multi-disciplinary project will have its own unique set of circumstances that may introduce risk – which can be a threat to success or an opportunity - throughout its lifetime. Some risks you may not identify until they are realised. Understanding the risk tolerance of your project (risk aware, risk averse) risks to your project, how you will evaluate and manage including who is responsible for the management of risk, the tolerances around each circumstance and the reporting requirements are key elements of a risk management strategy. There are three steps to managing risk: Identifying risks :Brainstorming potential risks before the project begins helps to map out your initial risks to capture in a risk register and should routinely carried out throughout the duration of the project. Review similar projects, exchange knowledge and experiences with others to identify any similar risks your project might encounter Assessing identified risks: Consider the probability of risk occurring, when it might occur and the overall impact it will have. Managing the risk: Consider the optimal approach that will minimise the impact of the risk where possible with the aim to either: Avoid Tolerate/Reduce Transfer Share Accept the risk and adjust the plans as necessary Communication Strategy Effective communication involves engaging audiences with a concise and clear message. When carried out successfully, scientific communication beyond peers to other interested stakeholders builds support for research, promotes understanding of the impact of the science on society and can influence future decisions made by funders, policy makers, professionals and others. This means employing a dedicated communications professional is highly recommended as this strategy, and associated communication plan, is one of the most important to consider from the outset of project set up. What to think about when writing your communication strategy: Identify key stakeholders. Who is your audience and who influences them? Tailor your communications based on whether your audience is: Influential, interested, supportive Influential, interested, opposed Influential but not interested What is your key message? Who are your key allies? Whose Twitter feeds can you link with to raise your profile? Ask your academics or those with high numbers of followers to retweet or share links to your communications What mediums will you use? NB: You can include a specific digital strategy within your communications plan or have this as a standalone. A digital strategy will focus solely on the way you plan to build the online presence for your project. News media, website, social media, online Lobbying Branding – building a recognisable brand Conferences/Webinars/Events What resources are available? Is funding available for website development and hosting? Have dedicated staff time been factored in to run social media channels or update web content? Are there any funds to cover brand development such as logos, letterheads, poster templates etc What is the timeline for your communications? Ideally work backwards from your main objective Create a list of required tasks whilst considering how long each will take Assign clear responsibilities. What are your objectives? Are they: Specific Measureable Achievable Realistic Timely This article was published on 2022-07-13
