In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, the need for institutional effectiveness (IE) has emerged as a pivotal structural design. This book, titled Institutional Effectiveness Fieldbook: Creating Coherence in Colleges and Universities, serves as a comprehensive guide for colleges and universities aiming to navigate the complexities of their organizational environments.

IE acts as a powerful antidote to the traditional loose-coupling that often characterizes institutions of higher learning. This loose-coupling can lead to independence and autonomy, ultimately resulting in a lack of strategic intent. Therefore, this fieldbook emphasizes creating coherence, which involves developing an approach that fosters greater interdependency, coordination, and enhanced information flow across various departments and stakeholders.

The book begins with a thorough explanation of what institutional effectiveness entails, shedding light on the environmental imperatives that underscore its significance in higher education today. It discusses the necessity for colleges and universities to adopt systems thinking, innovative organizational design, and effective model building as essential components of institutional effectiveness.

This fieldbook is the second installment in the Higher Education Fieldbook Series. It builds upon the foundation laid by the first book, Future College Fieldbook: Mission, Vision, and Values in Higher Education (2016), which has been instrumental in strategic planning sessions and retreats. This series aims to provide strong research and disciplinary bases while incorporating a wealth of current examples from a variety of institutional types.

As higher education institutions grapple with the challenges of direction-setting, this fieldbook will equip them with the tools and insights necessary to foster institutional effectiveness. The chapters are rich with information and are designed to engage readers, whether they are administrators, faculty members, or stakeholders interested in improving institutional coherence.

In conclusion, the Institutional Effectiveness Fieldbook is an invaluable resource for those committed to enhancing strategic intent within their institutions. By focusing on coherence, this book not only addresses the challenges faced by higher education but also provides practical solutions and frameworks that can lead to transformative change.