1. Research Goals and Methods

❚ Research Goals

￮ With the increasing impact of global climate change, environmental pollution, infectious diseases, and unsanitary food on local communities, the importance of research conducted by the Institute of Health and Environment cannot be emphasized enough. 

￮ Focusing on the Jeonbuk State Institute of Health & Environment Research (hereafter known as “the institute”), we comprehensively analyzed its external and internal environments, functions, past performance, and room for improvement, thus creating a development roadmap for the institute, including its vision and strategic tasks. 

￮ To develop strategic plans and a task list, we employed multiple research tools comprising a review of external and internal conditions, a SWOT analysis, a comparative analysis involving institutes of a similar nature, an internal survey, and expert/stakeholder consultation.

❚ Research Methods

￮ Analysis: We conducted our analysis according to the following steps: 1) an analysis of the institute’s functions and performances → 2) a macro-environmental analysis (policy contexts, SWOT, and case studies) → 3) fact-finding surveys (an internal member survey and a review of the situational awareness and advice of experts and stakeholders) → 4) a comprehensive development roadmap (vision, core values, strategic goals, strategic tasks, action plans, and relevant policy recommendations)

￮ Internal survey: We targeted the institute’s internal members to measure and assess various factors, encompassing organizational systems, operations, human resources, functional strategies to strengthen expertise, corporate culture, and satisfaction levels. The institute conducted the survey online and anonymously on our behalf.

￮ Expert consultation: Targeting experts in infectious diseases, food and drugs, and the environment (professors and researchers) within and outside Jeonbuk State, and the institute’s stakeholders (provincial and central government-affiliated organizations), we investigated their perceptions and opinions regarding the institute’s performance, policy implications, and measures taken to strengthen the institute’s expertise, as well as the institute’s mid-to long-term vision and development roadmap. Based on the research outcomes, we performed a context analysis and presented an analytical summary.

2. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations

❚ Establishing Vision and Core Values

￮ Vision: A Jeonbuk-specific “One Health” inspection and research hub as a key center for precise examination/inspection and proactive research based on an integrated approach of people, animals, and environment

￮ Four core values: Integrity, scientific reliability, research innovation, and resident-centered philosophy, with an explanation of each value’s meaning and selection criteria

❚ Proposing Strategic Systems and Tasks—comprising four strategic goals, eight strategic tasks, and 17 action plans

￮ Strategic goal 1: Establishing a “One Health”-driven integrated management system (two strategic tasks and four action plans) 

￮ Strategic goal 2: Enhancing scientific reliability and improving evidence-based administrative management (two strategic tasks and four action plans)

￮ Strategic goal 3: Pursuing research excellence and proactive innovation (two strategic tasks and five action plans)

￮ Strategic goal 4: Strengthening resident-centered health and environmental services (two strategic tasks and four action plans)

❚ A Roadmap Toward Reorganization and Policy Recommendations

￮ We propose that the institute pursue the dualization of the Environment Research Department including an atmospheric research department, focusing on atmospheric and living environments, and a water environment research department, targeting water quality and waste, and establish its western branch. This dualization aims to resolve organizational overcrowding and inefficiency and strengthen expertise by subdividing functions. Additionally, the proposed western branch will enhance the quality of administrative services by enabling thorough field-based inspection and response (including infectious disease sample processing, golden time analysis of air and water pollution accidents, and safety inspection at the on-site distribution stage) and shortening inspection time. 

￮ Essential prerequisites to accelerating the development roadmap include institutional support, such as the concurrent provision of additional staff and  budget to accommodate the expanding scope of work, reorganization-related administrative and financial support, and training and dispatch for strengthening organizational culture and expertise. 

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