Team research – particularly inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary – is most effective when diverse perspectives, experience, and knowledge converge around collaborative efforts. Success may be evaluated in a variety of ways, but achieving desired outcomes hinges on shared understanding of mission, goals, and metrics. While strategic planning, visioning, and goal-setting may be intimidating at first glance, they are ultimately necessary in some format to every project and collaborative team effort, regardless of project size, scope, or context.

Facilitators, administrators, and research development professionals are “doers” who develop tools and implement practices in support of team science. We may be called on (or volunteered) to assist teams in the planning or implementation phases, or to troubleshoot when mission and goals are not being met.

Methods
This presentation draws from experience developing and leading strategic planning for the Research Development Services and Core Facilities group (<20 team members) at the UC Davis Office of Research, which supports an annual research enterprise of over $1 billion in extramural funding; as well as observations gained facilitating a similar process for a research core facility.

We will introduce practical examples in different contexts and share tips and best practices to effectively:

1. Draft and develop unique vision and mission statements
2. Craft focused strategies in alignment with achieving vision and mission
3. Establish actionable, measurable, forward-looking goals and identify specific tasks and activities necessary to accomplish them
4. Generate a roadmap of investment for the resources needed to achieve their goals, mission, and vision

Implementation
Takeaways for attendees include access to a reference framework for strategic planning and how the process evolves based on participant feedback. They will be introduced to tips on how to “ask constructive questions”, explore scenarios for practical implementation, and gain an understanding of methods which can be adapted to their organizations and roles in team research and science.