The David Eccles School of Business has developed a strategic plan to chart our course for success and shape our future.

Vision

To be the business school of the Mountain West and a national leader. We will empower every student to reach their peak, and we will reach beyond campus to help business, people, and the economy thrive.

Strategic Plan

Strategy Leadership

  • Kurt Dirks, Dean, Professor of Leadership
  • Katie Hoffman Abby, Vice President, U Career Success; Assistant Dean, David Eccles School of Business
  • Katie Amundsen, Assistant Dean, Alumni Relations and Development
  • Allison Boxer, Asst. Professor, Strategic Advisor to the Dean; James Lee Sorenson Presidential Endowed Chair in Applied Research
  • Jennifer Brown, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty; Professor, Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy; H. Brent Beesley Endowed Professor
  • Michael Lewis, Assistant Dean, Finance and Operations; Professor (Lecturer), School of Accounting
  • Catherine Smith, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
  • Stephen Stubben, Senior Associate Dean, Research; Professor, School of Accounting; Francis Armstrong Madsen Endowed Professor
  • Jess Taverna, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
  • Brad Vierig, Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Executive Education

Planning Process

Objectives

  • Involve our entire Eccles School community in shaping a plan articulating how we will achieve our vision.

  • Engage with stakeholders to gather valuable feedback and insights.
  • Explore themes that will influence our success and identify how we will address specific strategic priorities identified through research and other planning activities.
  • Identify resources critical to success and mechanisms to gauge our progress toward achieving our vision over time.
  • Develop an implementation plan that informs and inspires all to collaborate and achieve our vision.

Objectives

  • Involve our entire Eccles School community in shaping a plan articulating how we will achieve our vision.

  • Engage with stakeholders to gather valuable feedback and insights.
  • Explore themes that will influence our success and identify how we will address specific strategic priorities identified through research and other planning activities.
  • Identify resources critical to success and mechanisms to gauge our progress toward achieving our vision over time.
  • Develop an implementation plan that informs and inspires all to collaborate and achieve our vision.

Planning Process

Backpackers climbing up a mountain with the University of Utah's Strategic Plan steps
Stakeholder Alignment, Market Research, and Analysis
  • Current State Analysis
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Expert Interviews
  • Market Research
  • Identify Criteria
Strategy Design and Development
  • Strategy Component Formulation
  • Alignment Testing
  • Define Strategic Components
  • Finalize Strategic Plan
Implementation and Planning
  • Set Success Metrics
  • Prioritize Initiatives
  • Develop Implementation Framework
  • Stakeholder Feedback
  • Phase Initiatives

Research Overview

Comprehensive internal and external research to inform strategic decision making in the planning phase.

Interviews Completed
  • University Leadership
  • Business School Leadership
  • External Funders
  • External Experts
Undergraduate Student Survey

Feedback was gathered from in-state, out-of-state, and international students across all grades and majors.

External Research

Comprehensive research of comparable and aspirational universities across key factors, programs, rankings, and more to better understand best-in-class practices and opportunities for improvement.

Focus Groups & Meetings
Students
  • Undergraduate Student Representatives
  • EMBA
  • MBA
  • PMBA
  • OMBA
  • Specialty Graduate Programs
Faculty and Staff
  • Centers and Institutes Meeting
  • Faculty Meeting
  • Staff Meeting
  • Department Chairs Meeting
Alumni and Donors
  • Eccles Advisory Board
  • DEAN Board
  • Small Group Dinners
  • One-on-One Meetings

Strategic Planning Roadmap

Charter
Development

Red Arrows

Prioritization
and Integration

Red Arrows
  • Define focus area
  • Articulate value proposition of focus area
  • Highlight overarching objectives
  • List potential initiatives for impact
  • Level up charters to an overarching strategy
  • Align on milestones, metrics, and outcomes
  • Determine areas of integration across the school
  • Prioritization of overlapping elements

Implementation
Strategy/Planning

Red Arrows

Implementation
Execution (by Charter)

Red Arrows
  • Framework for execution of overarching strategy
  • Core actions, steps, and processes that will drive implementation efforts
  • Identify potential risks and mitigations
  • Develop implementation considerations
  • Charter owners populate each charter framework
  • Develop detailed operational plans
  • Timeline and roadmaps
  • Define roles and responsibilities (task force, cross-function)

Charter
Development

Red Arrows
  • Define focus area
  • Articulate value proposition of focus area
  • Highlight overarching objectives
  • List potential initiatives for impact

Prioritization
and Integration

Red Arrows
  • Level up charters to an overarching strategy
  • Align on milestones, metrics, and outcomes
  • Determine areas of integration across the school
  • Prioritization of overlapping elements

Implementation
Strategy/Planning

Red Arrows
  • Framework for execution of overarching strategy
  • Core actions, steps, and processes that will drive implementation efforts
  • Identify potential risks and mitigations
  • Develop implementation considerations

Implementation
Execution (by Charter)

Red Arrows
  • Charter owners populate each charter framework
  • Develop detailed operational plans
  • Timeline and roadmaps
  • Define roles and responsibilities (task force, cross-function)