I  U  P  A  C

 Report to the Executive Committee by the Strategy Development and Implementation Committee

 

Executive Summary

The Strategy Development and Implementation Committee (SDIC) was established by the IUPAC Executive Committee (EC) on April 7, 1997 with the following charge:

1. Develop long-range goals or mission statements, based initially on the recommendations in the 1997 Vice-President's Critical Assessment.

2. Propose strategies for achieving these goals.

3. Examine the feasibility of converting the bulk of IUPAC's scientific work to a project-driven system, with time-limited Commissions, as expressed in the concept endorsed by the EC.

4. Propose specific means by which this concept (if found feasible) can and should be implemented, with desirable target dates.

The SDIC completed tasks 1 and 2 at the end of 1997 and submitted a proposed Strategic Plan to the Executive Committee (EC) in January 1998. This Plan, which is also presented and described in this report, was approved by the EC and has been widely disseminated. The Strategic Plan provides a succinct statement of IUPAC's Mission, a statement of ten long-range Goals and a set of Strategies to achieve each Goal. The Plan constitutes a declaration of the Union's global policy. It also provides a guide to the development of operational programs and a set of criteria against which to evaluate the accomplishments of IUPAC bodies.

Tasks 3 and 4 refer to changes in operational policies and procedures that would significantly change many aspects of the way in which the Union carries out its scientific activities. Since these activities are carried out primarily through the Divisions and Commissions, the SDIC has directed its attention to these bodies, not to the Bureau and Standing Committees, which have responsibilities in other areas. The SDIC has concluded that it is feasible to convert the Division/Commission structure and operations into one that focuses largely on specific projects carried out by time-limited bodies. However, the SDIC believes that successful operations in the future require the implementation of a number of concurrent changes. The SDIC has developed an integrated program to refocus IUPAC's efforts, to insure continuing quality and expertise in its scientific leadership, and to involve the worldwide chemistry community in the development and conduct of the Union's projects.

The following steps must be taken in concert to achieve the desired goals:

  Each Division Committee will become the clear focus in its branch of chemistry for the initiation of scientific efforts and for the development and management of individual projects. The duties of the Division Committees will be redefined; the membership augmented as needed to provide sufficiently broad scientific expertise; and the mechanism for nominating members of Division Committees modified to insure a continuing source of top-notch leadership drawn widely from the world's chemists.
  Ideas for projects will be solicited widely from National Adhering Organizations, national and regional chemical societies, industrial organizations and the general chemistry community. Proactive efforts will be made to assess needs for IUPAC action through presentations and discussions at IUPAC-sponsored symposia and other specialized meetings in the chemical sciences.
  It is expected that most projects will be carried out by Task Groups appointed for the (usually short term) duration of the project and funded adequately to permit completion of the project in the planned timeframe.
  The professional staff of the Secretariat will be developed to provide assistance to the Task Groups as needed and to assist in seeking ideas for IUPAC projects. The Secretariat staff will help to develop new projects and will actively seek outside funding when appropriate.
  In 1999 at Berlin, Council will be asked to amend Bylaw 4.307, effective January 1, 2002, to remove the "right" of Titular Members to receive funds for travel and subsistence. Expenses will henceforth be paid as needed to accomplish particular objectives - e.g., to plan a program, provide advice to the Division Committee or carry out a project. By eliminating these automatic expenditures, the SDIC believes that a significant fraction of the $525,000 budgeted for each General Assembly and funds allocated for "even year" meetings of Commissions can be redirected to high priority projects.
   In 1999 at Berlin, Council will be asked to terminate all existing Commissions on December 31, 2001. Requests by the Divisions to form new Commissions, for operation in 2002 and beyond, primarily as long-range planning and advisory bodies, will be considered by the Bureau and by Council in 1999 and 2001.

The SDIC anticipates that this report will be widely read and discussed within IUPAC and by its National Adhering Organizations. Hence, the body of the report and the appendices contain considerable background information. Furthermore, the presentation of recommendations is often rather detailed in order to provide an indication of the thorough discussion by the SDIC and of the rationale for each proposal. The financial implications of the Strategic Plan and the recommended operational changes are discussed and shown to require no additional resources.

A more succinct presentation of the recommendations and a timetable for actions is given on pp. 22-24. The SDIC recommends that the EC approve this program, request comments from IUPAC bodies and the Union's National Adhering Organizations, modify the details as needed as a result of comments received, and submit the proposal to the Bureau for action. The Bureau will be asked to endorse this program in September 1998 and set in motion the steps outlined above.


Executive Summary
Formation of the SDIC
Strategic Plan
Organization and Management of Scientific Work
Responsibilities of Division Committees
Election of Division Committees and Division Officers
Project-Driven System
Conversion to a New Project-Driven System
Operation of a Project-Driven System
Evaluation of Projects
Role of the Secretariat
Financial Considerations
Summary of Recommendations on Organization and Management
Summary of Formal Actions Required
Concluding Statement
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4

 


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Copyright © 1997, 98 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

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