Higher Education
Clients
Arizona State University
University of Connecticut
University of
Illinois
UMass Amherst
UMass Boston
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State
Univ.
Tuskegee University
University of Rhode Island
University
of Vermont
University of West Virginia
University of Wisconsin
Hocking College
Springfield College
Western New England
College
Worcester State College
Related Clients
National Science Foundation
The National Association
of State Universities
& Land Grant Colleges
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The Historically Black
Land Grant Universities:
Association of Extension Administrators
Northeast Extension Directors
Digital Library for Earth System Education
Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education
Centers for Ocean
Sciences Education
Excellence
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Services to Colleges & Universities
Assistance to institutions of higher education has always been a major focus of DFD's work. We provide organization development, leadership development, and process facilitation to educational institutions, and also to scientific, governmental, and non-profit organizations. Here are some of the forms that our assistance takes:
- Situation Assessment
- Involving the "Whole System" in vision, strategy, and implementation
- Leadership Development
- Board and Team Retreats
- Creativity & Innovation: Designing Products, Services, Projects, Processes
- Helping Organizations Stay Viable and Relevant
Situation Assessment
DFD conducts information gathering – including individual and group interviews – to produce organizational situation assessments, either as a stand-alone service or as the first phase of an organizational development intervention.Sample client: UMass Boston's Graduate College of Education, at the time of a dean search. TO TOP
Involving the "Whole System" in
vision,
strategy, and implementation
Using either carefully structured processes or participant-designed
"Open Space" events, DFD helps institutions increase the level of
engagement with visioning, strategy development, and planning of action
steps. DFD also conducts community meetings, focus groups, and other
formats as means to engage the broader community.
Sample
clients: A strategic planning process for 300 people associated with
the historically black land grant universities; an "Open Space" meeting
for 150 faculty, staff, students, and administrators at the University of
Rhode
Island.
TO TOP
Leadership Development
DFD designs and delivers leadership development programs and one-on-one
coaching.
Sample client: For the Cooperative Extension System at
the state universities of the northeastern U.S., Duane Dale has created
NeLD (Northeast Leadership Development), an intensive leadership
development experience for educators and
administrators. TO TOP
Board and Team Retreats
DFD works with clients to design retreats and dialogue processes that
address specific situations.
Sample client: the University of
Rhode Island administrators' council. TO TOP
Creativity & Innovation: Designing
Products,
Services, Projects, Processes
DFD provides training and coaching for leaders and teams that are
developing innovative products, services, and methods to meet the needs of
a changing society.
Sample client group: Northeast Leadership Development
program participants. TO TOP
Helping Organizations Stay
Viable and
Relevant
A common thread in all DFD's work is to help organizations stay viable and relevant. The four keys that DFD helps clients pursue are:
- a strong organizational identity
- alert to its environment
- holding a vision for the future
- building a plan for getting there. TO TOP
Personnel
Duane Dale is
DFD's principal consultant.
Associates provide specialized capabilities as needed.
References are available on request.