Self-Appraisal of a Data Strategy

The recently released book Data Strategy in Colleges and Universities: From Understanding to Implementation (Routledge, 2019), edited by AIR member Kristina Powers, features a chapter contributed by AIR staff members Leah Ewing Ross, Jason R. Lewis, and Stephan C. Cooley. The chapter explores the why, what, who, and how of conducting self-appraisals of institutional data strategies. The authors assert that this work has value only if it is grounded in the institution’s goals, reflects the institution’s culture, engages key stakeholders, and supports decision making in pursuit of institutional improvement. Otherwise, the institution risks doing for the sake of doing, minimizing the benefit of the self-appraisal. The volume also includes contributions from a wide variety of AIR community members. More information about the volume is available on the Routledge website.