Organizational Agility

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Interdisciplinary collaboration enhances creative thinking and innovation, using a broad community knowledge base, dynamic human resource capital management, and cross-functional communication, to create an empowering, efficient, and accountable environment. This collaborative approach inspires community engagement and cultivates relationships beyond our campus to enrich research opportunities and foster growth.

The University adopts an ethos that embraces change as an opportunity to promote growth, acknowledging that sustained and transformative excellence in organizational agility at Hofstra University will be applied in everything we do. The whole community — students, faculty, and staff — is part of a collaborative, participatory environment dedicated to positive societal change and the preparation of Hofstra students to thrive as agents of change. Campus leaders build systems to encourage innovation at all levels and by all members of the Hofstra community.

Everyone is empowered through streamlined and efficient processes, including clearly communicated policies, measurable goals and expectations, cutting-edge technological advancements, and silo-free connections and communication across the campus community. 

In keeping with core principles of organizational agility, the University designs its operations, projects, and initiatives around motivated individuals, gives them the support they require, and trusts them to get the job done. Local decision-makers are trusted to make responsible decisions, and administrative controls are trusted to make efficient use of time and resources for the community’s benefit. Hofstra’s lean and nimble administrative structure directs decision-making authority and accountability to those closest to the issue, ultimately minimizing bureaucracy, lead time, cycle time, decision-points, and handoffs.

Hofstra will enhance its mission by strategically identifying and sunsetting activities that no longer align with our core goals, values, or strategic priorities. This collaborative process allows for the reallocation of resources to initiatives that better serve the institution's mission and future growth. The University employs mechanisms that ensure we remain agile by stopping and asking why before any new or returning levels, controls, or processes are proposed or added.

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Implementation Steps

4.A      We will foster community-centered, sustainable innovation through the efficient implementation of interdisciplinary relationships and practices by:

• Cultivating an ethos that understands change as opportunity, champions collaboration, and embraces an innovative growth mindset.
• Redesigning and continually optimizing the University’s website and portal to provide useful, timely information and resources.
• Eliminating data silos and proactively facilitating information-sharing.
• Creating a permanent organizational agility committee to collaboratively review agility goals, measures, and implementation steps and recommend priorities aligned with Hofstra's strategic goals.
• Establishing a university-wide data governance structure and working group.

4.B       We will develop and maintain streamlined processes by using established and emerging technologies to optimize resources and build cutting-edge infrastructure by:

• Transforming the University’s business processes and practices to be digitally native and intentionally designed to preserve time, reduce waste and bottlenecks, and increase visibility and tracking.
• Empowering team leaders with localized decision-making authority and decentralized budgets to proactively address matters.
• Establishing a continuing organizational review process to eliminate unnecessary approvals, remove inefficient or redundant systems, and reduce bureaucracy.

4.C       We will develop a thriving R2 University by:

• Exploring funding opportunities through course/curriculum efficiency and through an increase in sponsored research awards.
• Exploring additional full-time faculty career tracks.
• Expanding undergraduate research opportunities to enhance the student experience.
• Building the required research administrative, physical, and electronic infrastructure to support faculty and student research.
• Promoting a culture of recognition and the celebration of research, scholarship, teaching, and community engagement.

4.D      We will periodically assess and optimize institutional structures, practices, and technologies to encourage innovation and adaptability by:

• Designing and implementing a transparent, objective-based continuous improvement plan for Hofstra.
• Conducting a technology assessment for each unit to identify and prioritize opportunities to eliminate manual and/or paper-based administrative processes; expand the appropriate application of AI; and upgrade, decommission, consolidate, or replace outdated systems.