EdTech Insight – Ending the confusion in cloud transformations: The dashboards and metrics everyone needs

by | May 24, 2024 | McKinsey, News & Insights

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Executive Summary and Main Points

The disparity between the economic potential of cloud technology and the underwhelming outcomes experienced by enterprises is stark, with just 40% of the companies profiled by McKinsey realizing significant value from their cloud programs. Alarmingly, half of these companies demonstrate a cloud adoption rate of less than 20%, even after more than five years into their cloud journey. Imprecise metrics and the absence of comprehensive Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) compound the problem, causing organizations to struggle in conveying the enterprise value generated by cloud initiatives effectively. Well-structured dashboards and centralized governance are proposed as solutions to enhance transparency and inform data-driven decision-making.

Potential Impact in the Education Sector

The insights gained from corporate cloud adoption trials and their corresponding solutions could be transformative for Further Education and Higher Education, as well as for the burgeoning field of Micro-credentials. Leveraging cloud technology could advance online learning platforms, foster collaborative international research, and enable the creation of scalable and adaptable learning ecosystems. Effective monitoring and analytics dashboards can offer educators real-time insights into students’ progress, resource utilization, and organizational efficiency, thereby enhancing strategic partnerships and accelerating digitalization in global education systems.

Potential Applicability in the Education Sector

AI and digital tools, contextualized for education, can be integrated utilizing similar dashboards and governance frameworks as recommended for cloud adoption in business. Automation in tracking and reporting educational outcomes, student engagement metrics, and operational efficiency could promote continuous improvement and personalized learning experiences. Moreover, implementing AI-driven analytics can foster a responsive educational environment that adapts to the individual needs of students, potentially revolutionizing global higher education.

Criticism and Potential Shortfalls

Adopting these cloud transformation strategies is not without potential pitfalls; there may be cultural resistance, inadequate metric alignment with educational outcomes, and ethical considerations concerning data privacy and student equity. Comparative international case studies, such as digital transformation experiences in different countries’ education sectors, offer real-world cautionary tales indicating that such technology implementation must be sensitive to the unique context of each educational institution.

Actionable Recommendations

To implement cloud technology effectively in global higher education, leadership must align digital transformation with core educational goals, ensuring that OKRs are clear and that progress is carefully and transparently measured. Dedicated resources for analytics must be established, with regular stakeholder reviews to foster accountability and consistent advancement towards educational objectives. Educational institutions should consider establishing a central governance team to oversee these initiatives, thereby ensuring that digital tools and AI are strategically and ethically integrated into the educational landscape.

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Source article: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/ending-the-confusion-in-cloud-transformations-the-dashboards-and-metrics-everyone-needs