Improving Practice in the SectorMAW connections to TRAC and activity costing

Will Foster September 17 2009

Academic Workloads and TRAC

• What TRAC requires from a TAS

• Practicalities to make WLBM fit for purpose

• Issues and Responses

• Building on the Basics- Data becomes Management Information

What TRAC requires from a TASWhat is needed to achieve a robust method-

• Schedules are used• Cover periods that are representative of 12

months within 3 year cycle• Individual academics complete themselves• Response rates are statistically sound• Data is collected over a 3 year cycle

Practical Steps

Individual WLBM

• School WLBM

• Mapping Exercise

• School TRAC

• Faculty/ University TRAC

• TRAC % allocations

• TRAC schedules

Issues and Responses

• 2001-2004 Internal Audit

Some issues on robustness

“The information provided by the WLBM continues to be at least as robust as data obtained under the methods suggested in the TRAC guidance”

Issues and Responses2004-5 KPMG QA Review• In current form not considered robust under the

TRAC guidance

To achieve robustness-• Academics to review (positively) 3 * Year• Classification should be formalised• All activities and time to be covered• Head of School to undertake reasonableness

check

Issues and Responses• Meeting with JM Consulting• Action Plan• Statistical Sampling Statistical Advice (Internal) Simple Questionnaire Statistical Review• Better Documentation• Clearer Linkage to TRAC definitions

TRAC Guidance

“ It is unlikely that many institutions currently have workload planning models with [ the required ] level of rigour

TAS CharacteristicsWorkload• 100% Coverage –Every academic, every

year• Underpinned by other data sets-

timetables, secured projects etc• Updated in real time for changes• Integral to actual activity• Validated at HoS level

TAS Characteristics

Diaries, Sampling etc

• Incomplete coverage

• Problems with recall

• Not integrated with other managerial processes

• “ Completion fatigue” and falling response rates

Building on the Basics

• Using WLBM for TRAC always seen as a means to achieve internal benefit

• Activity Costing calculated at School level from Year 1

• Pilot Course Costing from 2002• Full Exercise from 2004 onwards• Professorial Data Review 2008• Link to other initiatives e.g. Benchmarking