Annual Report 2011 (209k) Information for Members
SUMS Consulting Members have equal rights to benefits that include access to our management consultancy services, to our expert staff and to the repository of good practice.
The cost of SUMS Consulting is met from an annual membership subscription and no charge is made for services undertaken within the framework of the annual work programme.
Access to SUMS Consulting's services is in the main through Key Contacts (KC); they are experienced management consultants who are nominated to work closely with a Member. Their key objective is to develop the member relationship to enable SUMS Consulting to understand each Member’s needs. They work closely with the Member Representative.
SUMS Consulting undertakes work for Members according to a rolling programme of assignments. Each Member is asked to channel their requests for support through their nominated Member Representative to the KC. In addition to undertaking individual programmes of work we undertake collaborative studies for the benefit of all Members. We are also able to undertake occasional additional work outside of the work programme for Members and for non-member universities at attractive fee rates; this is subject to our core work programme for Members that always takes priority.
Repository of Best Practice
To support the exchange of best practice and to inform Members:
- Copies of assignment reports - are made available to all Members on request. A Member may withhold agreement to release a report.
- Good Practice Guides - are produced, typically following completion of similar or linked assignments in areas of common interest
- Lessons Learned Occasional Papers - are distributed; these are a synopsis of good practice and lessons learnt that emerge from assignments
- Good Practice Groups – are facilitated to support the exchange of good practice. Group members are typically Heads of division and each group has its own agenda and calendar of activities.
- Annual Reports – are produced that contain a brief description of each individual and collaborative study undertaken by SUMS Consulting during that year; they also outline proposals for the next year’s developments.
Seminars and Events – are held throughout the year. These support or give feedback on the outcomes of work undertaken or launch new initiatives.