Strategic planning for the academic environment: a case study of a research group from the Federal University of Parana

Introduction: Competition on academic research environments differs from that in the competitive enterprise markets. Strategic objectives in the first case deal with visibility and positioning between researchers and in the research groups market. The Applied Research Group for Science, Information and Technology (GP-CIT) felt the urge for engaging into a strategic planning process, looking for aggregate value to its decision processes, establishing directions and strategies. Internal and external assessments to GP-CIT revealed favorable characteristics towards strategic planning, aiming at reinforcing the potential for its resources, competences and opportunities. Method: Applied research involving the following steps: characterization of the environment, identifying the main type of demand in relation to planning as well as directed the Group focus setting; synthesis of the positioning of the environment outside its market area; diagnosis of internal and external factors; detailment of central expertise; definition of the strategic direction; outlining the strategy in the levels of business collaboration and growth. Results: The characteristics of the internal culture and external GP-CIT are favorable to the realization of strategic planning focused to enhance its resources, skills and opportunities. These fundamental aspects of the design of the strategic direction can be pursued by the Group in the academic environment on long-term vision supporting its mission, goals and business values. Differentiation strategies, collaboration and growth objectives were formulated in order to foster the activity of the GP-CIT in the academic environment, considering its competitive dynamics. Conclusions: Implementation of strategies should follow careful steps and decisions, to achieve competitive prospect based on solid performance. Strategic thinking, while a holistic view, is to be inserted into the Group's culture in order to change not only processes related to it, but the whole paradigm of activities and its competitiveness in the academic environment.