Post-OPM Strategy: Foster Collaboration and Transparency

Preface: The OPM landscape is shifting, and it is not my intention to cast OPMs or the decision to partner with them as good or bad. The purpose of this article is to present neutral information senior-level leaders may want to consider when making decisions regarding their online strategy.

My first article provided an overview of 7 Key Elements to Guide a Post-OPM Strategy. This is the last part in the series where we discuss the importance of fostering a collaborative environment. 

When insourcing our online learning operations after an OPM partnership, one of the biggest challenges we faced was fostering a cohesive, collaborative culture across our newly assembled team. We had hired talented staff from various backgrounds, implemented new technologies and processes, and were operating in an entrepreneurial "start-up" mindset. Maintaining transparency and open communication would be key to driving our student-centered mission.

From day one, we made cultivating a collaborative environment a top priority. We couldn't afford to operate in organizational silos if we wanted to provide our online students with a seamless experience. Our students don't care whether they're interacting with an admissions counselor, academic advisor, or instructional designer - they simply want fast, quality support.

One of the first steps we took was implementing a weekly team meeting to kick off each new week. These standing meetings served as a forum for addressing issues, celebrating wins, and getting full visibility into everyone's workloads and priorities for the upcoming week. While we covered important operational items, we focused just as much on team building and fostering personal connections.

We dedicated time during these meetings to share "weekly highlights" - a quick rundown of professional accomplishments and personal updates from each team member. These seemingly simple check-ins boosted morale and gave everyone insight into how their colleagues were balancing work and life. We also made a point to collectively celebrate major milestones like new program launches, enrollment achievements, or process optimizations.

Beyond the weekly team meeting, we found creative ways to facilitate transparency and collaboration. We used collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams to enable seamless communication and information sharing across our team's digital workspace. We maintained an open-door policy, encouraging in-person dialogue and feedback flowing in both directions. Our department goals were developed collectively, giving everyone a sense of ownership over our direction.

In the online learning space, we face new challenges almost daily - whether that's an influx of inquiries for a hot new program or new technological integrations to troubleshoot. We've built an environment where every team member feels comfortable speaking up, sharing ideas, and brainstorming solutions together as a unit. 

Collaboration also extends beyond our internal online team to our colleagues in marketing, IT, faculty development, and academic departments across the university. We regularly meet to get critical stakeholder input, identify opportunities for optimization, and ensure our online operations complement and amplify institutional strategies.

Perhaps most importantly, we operate with transparency which ensures the student perspective remains the focal point of every decision. Our student satisfaction surveys and direct feedback channels ensure the student voice is always being heard. We analyze those insights collaboratively as a team to extract meaningful takeaways we can act upon.

Building this collaborative, transparent culture from the ground up has empowered our online programs and student services to thrive. Our team is driven by a shared passion for delivering exceptional experiences. We embrace an entrepreneurial, continuous improvement mindset of always finding new ways to elevate our offerings for students.

After insourcing, forging cross-functional bonds and open communication channels is critical. Embrace transparency, celebrate collectively, and rally around a clear, student-centered mission. Doing so builds the strong cultural foundation necessary for long-term success.

So where are you on your OPM-journey? I would love to hear from similar institutions.

Let’s connect, I promise I’ll pick up the phone (or zoom call). jeremiah@fractionalcolo.com