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Virtual Central Support Unit Approach to Organizational Support and Staff Development

Book cover Professional and Support Staff in Higher Education

Part of the book series: University Development and Administration ((UDAA))

Abstract

The Virtual Central Support Unit (CSU) is a model of organizational development and support created by Victoria University of Wellington in response to strategic drivers for change in the way Victoria engages in administration, teaching, and research. A collaborative approach encompassing professional support staff based in several different CSUs working on strategic and operational projects in virtual teams lies at the heart of this model. A key feature of this approach is that the Virtual CSU can be seen as a collection of inter-related virtual organizations focused on specific priorities, rather than as a single alternative hierarchy in an otherwise traditionally structured organization. This chapter highlights the important components of the Virtual CSU approach and presents examples of key successes that have helped the University work towards its wider strategic and operational goals. This new organizational model has also unified the strategic needs of professional development at Victoria to create new services and initiatives that raise the awareness and accessibility of training for all staff across the University. The framework illustrates how universities can incrementally address the wasteful and rigid structures of traditional siloed groups and achieve similar positive changes to their organizations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Victoria University of Wellington, Information Technology Services, Wellington, New Zealand

    Jonathan Flutey & Beth Smith

  2. Victoria University of Wellington, Centre for Academic Development, Wellington, New Zealand

    Stephen Marshall

Authors
  1. Jonathan Flutey
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  2. Beth Smith
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  3. Stephen Marshall
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan Flutey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tasmanian Institute of Learning and Teac, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Carina Bossu

  2. Tasmanian Institute of Learning and Teac, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Natalie Brown

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Flutey, J., Smith, B., Marshall, S. (2018). Virtual Central Support Unit Approach to Organizational Support and Staff Development. In: Bossu, C., Brown, N. (eds) Professional and Support Staff in Higher Education. University Development and Administration. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_28-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_28-2

  • Received:

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1607-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1607-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Virtual Central Support Unit Approach to Organizational Support and Staff Development
    Published:
    30 October 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_28-3

  2. Virtual Central Support Unit Approach to Organizational Support and Staff Development
    Published:
    28 June 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_28-2

  3. Original

    Virtual Central Support Unit Approach to Organizational Support and Staff Development
    Published:
    07 November 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_28-1

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