Approach and Timeline

Working through phases, LSU, Huron, and Urban Impact Advisors will assess current assumptions, develop points of view to inform the future and finally develop a strategic research growth plan for the next five years.   

Approach

This work will include:

• Assess LSU’s research culture and identify opportunities to strengthen that culture.  
• Assess LSU’s research infrastructure (e.g., organizational structure, policies, processes, funds flow, faculty capacity, technology, data maturity, and IT infrastructure) to identify current gaps and determine necessary augmentations to support research growth goals. 
• Assess LSU’s externally and institutionally funded research and development (R&D) expenditure accounting processes for the NSF HERD survey reporting. 
• Develop case studies and comparable benchmarks for institutions that have grown significantly in recent years.  
  Conduct data-driven analysis of funding sources (supporting multi-disciplinary, extramural growth) and health priorities of the clinical health service areas (supporting clinical trials growth) informing visioning sessions with LSU executives. 
• Develop a set of Strategic Opportunity Areas (“SOAs”) for research growth, along with the tactics and steps required to execute. This includes the development and vetting of multiple models to achieve major research growth.  
• Identify one-time and incremental investments and a phased implementation approach.  

Timeline

This work will take approximately 40 weeks and will include the following phases:

Phase 1: Where Are We Today?

Phase 1 (11 Weeks)

• Understand today’s research infrastructure and administration needs to drive future progress
• Develop context and a deep understanding of the current state of the research enterprise and funding landscape
   

Key Deliverables

• Survey results
• Expenditure analysis 
• Current state research activity analysis 
• Current state assessment 

Phase 2: What Do We Aspire to Be?

Phase 2 (8 Weeks)

• Define research aspirations for the future
• Shape the research enterprise's future by defining its mission, vision, and identifying areas of opportunity
   

Key Deliverables 

• Market data analytics and research funding trend analysis 
• Research growth case studies
• Strategic opportunity area (SOA) profiles 
   

Phase 3: How Do We Get There?

Phase 3 (17 Weeks)

• Walk the future back and develop the path forward
• Finalize the path to success and growth of the research enterprise – including investments needed to succeed.  

Key Deliverables 

• Future state research infrastructure recommendations
• Financial framework for one-time and recurring costs
• Research strategic plan