The emergence of "managerialism" in the governance and direction of UK higher education (HE) institutions has been led by government demands for greater accountability in the quality and cost of universities. There is emerging anecdotal evidence indicating that the estimation performance of HE spreadsheets and regression models are poor. The authors argue that there is a need for a holistic approach to HE planning in order to improve quality, increase productivity and reduce costs. The Holon Framework is being developed to improve and control teaching and research processes within an academic department of a modern UK university. This interdisciplinary methodological approach aims to empower academics and administrators through resolving relevant problems, generating a pragmatic vision and moving towards it using on-line metrication instruments and tools. In this article, the authors argue that there is a need within HE management to take a systemic view of the socio-processes at work within institutions and that the full range of academic activity (including research, teaching, administration and management) can be viewed from the perspective of process improvement and control. They argue that the Holon Framework enables process improvement and control through its different modes of activity. To illustrate the use of the Framework the authors outline some aspects of a particular pilot study and examine one sub-Holon (Admissions) and drill down into one of its component holons (Marketing). (Contains 10 figures, 8 tables and 1 note.)