The Division of Finance & Administration enables the university’s mission by being a trusted, innovative and collaborative partner that builds and delivers programs connecting every member of the OSU community to resources, people, environments and systems that are vital to excel and succeed. Integral to DFA's overall impact and support of the university's mission is our Framework for Success.

    What is the DFA Framework for Success?

The DFA Framework for Success is a comprehensive approach to supporting informed and transparent decision-making across the Division of Finance and Administration, for the benefit of the university. Built on the foundation of OSU’s core values—accountability, diversity, integrity, respect and social responsibility—the Framework provides the underlying system of concepts, principles, and activity drivers for DFA employees to focus their efforts in support of and aligned with OSU’s vision, mission, and strategic plan. More regarding the development of the Framework can be found here.

    The Framework can help every employee within the division understand why their work is important and how it advances the goals of OSU’s Strategic Plan. The DFA Framework for Success promotes the removal of barriers between units and allows people with vastly different jobs to share a common language, a unified direction, and a sense of belonging to a wider community.

    What does the DFA Framework for Success do?

    • Measures progress toward strategic and operational goals.
    • Informs DFA's strategic direction and assist senior leaders determine DFA's strategic priorities, projects and actions, which in turn directly advance actions in OSU's strategic plan.
    • Provides direction and decision-making tools for employees.
    • Creates opportunities for academic and professional success.

    The DFA Framework for Success consists of three main elements:

    DFA Guiding Principles

    Principles that Guide DFA Decision-Making and Actions

    The DFA Guiding Principles and OSU's Core Values

    As people employed in the Division of Finance and Administration collaborate across all domains of the university, they use the guiding principles, individually or in combination, to assess whether judgments, plans and decisions align with OSU’s core values, vision, mission and strategic plan. The work of DFA impacts every person at OSU, every moment, every day.

    The following guiding principles are built upon OSU's core values: ACCOUNTABILITY, DIVERSITY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

    Generate effective results through structured and inclusive decision-making.

    Convey and confirm intent and respect for all OSU community members through communication and engagement that is responsive, clear and transparent.

    Improve effectiveness and efficiency through process consistency balanced with flexibility.

    Provide for OSU community members’ success through community safety, support for well-being and respect for all.

    Ensure the long-term success of the university through proactive stewardship of resources  in alignment with OSU’s Strategic Plan.

    Balance innovation and compliance through active assessment and management of risk.

    Remove barriers to success and expand access to services through clearly defined and integrated policies, standards and processes.

    Improve the satisfaction of OSU community members through empowering employees with appropriately delegated decision-making authority.

    DFA Key Performance Indicators

    Measurement of Activities and Performance

    The DFA Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) reflect broad categories that define the things that are important to DFA units and stakeholders. Key Performance Indicators allow us to speak a common language across the DFA, despite the vastly different work of the division’s distinct units. For example, whether a person works in Facilities, Human Resources or Accounting, everyone in the division cares about the impacts our work has on people, and we all want to contribute to the success of the university.

    Division-wide performance measures assess university-wide services and activities, while DFA’s internal outcomes are tracked at the unit level through specific metrics. Division-wide performance measures include both quantifiable and qualitative measurements of specific activities and bundles of activities. Unit-level metrics are under development and will be shared in the near future.

    The table below presents revised key activities and updated descriptions for division-wide performance measures.

    KPI

    Key Activity

    Division-Wide Performance Measures

    PEOPLE

     

     

    Be an employer of choice that attracts, develops and retains excellent and diverse people

     

     
    • Diverse talent acquisition
    • Sense of Belonging
    • Professional Development
    • Career Mobility
    • Retention  

    OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

    Create responsive systems and procedures that support the success of members of the OSU community, and achieve competitive advantage for the university
    • Business systems and processes that are fit for purpose
    • Stakeholder success

    SAFETY

    Promote the health, safety, and well-being of every member of the OSU community

     

     
    • Community sense of physical and mental safety and security
    • Community engagement in safety/security
    • Emergency management program is current and comprehensive
    • Workplace and student learning and living environments safety programs are comprehensive and effective

    INFRASTRUCTURE

    Build and maintain infrastructure that supports the people of the OSU community and their academic, research, and outreach activities.

     

     

    • Facilities are clean and well-maintained
    • Facilities are designed to support today’s pedagogy, research, and outreach needs and are flexible to support the future
    • Infrastructure is efficient and effective
    • Facilities are accessible to all
    • Infrastructure plans are aligned with the strategic plan of the university.

    FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

    Proactively steward university resources for the maximum benefit of OSU.

     

     
    • Financial and human resources are managed effectively
    • Reserves are adequate
    • Managing within reoccurring budget
    • Transparency of budgets
    • Budgets are aligned with OSU’s strategic plan

    RISK

    Assess and manage strategic, compliance, operations, financial and reputational risk to protect the university and support the pursuit of innovation and opportunities.
    • Comprehensive insurance program 
    • Total Cost of Risk