Strategy at work

This week, I have been contacted twice by people out there in the larger world who had carefully read the new PRIO strategy. Not only had they read it, they also suggested concrete collaboration on specific objectives. One was from a relevant US university centre who would want collaboration on the research school. The other was from an eastern Africa based research network who suggested a long term partnership. No commitments are made. But it is good to see that the strategy is not only a useful document for internal purposes; it also works in soliciting interest out there.

We can take that as an invitation. Next week, a good group of PRIOites go to the  ISA conference in New Orleans. Do make people aware of PRIO’s future strategic plans; do make them aware of the document. That way, I shall receive even more e-mails of the sort referred to above, and we shall be able to make the most well-informed choices possible.

The internal work on the strategy is moving ahead, even if there has been minimal publicity about it. The Leader Group met at my place on 25 January for a full day brainstorm on implementation. Concrete measures are taken. To mention some:

• Internal funding for Strategic Initiatives have been advertised
• We have contacted prospective Norwegian partners on the research school
• The gender task force (Ingeborg, Kristin, Åshild and myself) meets for the first time today

Yet, what I find most encouraging is that I hear people continuously referring – explicitly or implicitly, knowingly or unknowingly – to the vision and the goals in their daily work. That is the strongest indicator that we got the process right. Keep up the good work!