1. Strategic Planning

2. Agenda • Icebreaker • Welcome and Introductions • Agenda Review • What is Strategic Planning • Types of Strategic Planning • Planning to Plan • Strategic Planning Process • Strategic Planning Tools and Techniques • Parking Lot • Discussion/Evaluation

3. Learning Objectives • Identify the various steps in the strategic planning process • Initiate and manage a strategic planning process • Determine appropriate tools for strategic planning • Understand strategies for evaluation • Initiate community support and involvement in the process • Develop communication strategies to promote the strategic planning process • Identify partners to be involved in strategic planning process • Participate in the strategic planning process (if applicable)

4. What is Strategic Planning • Used by community groups, government departments, organizations and businesses to develop blueprint for action and change • the process should be community based, inclusive and participatory to allow for maximum stakeholder involvement and input.

5. Defines mission, vision & values Establishes realistic goals, objectives & strategies Ensures effective use of resources Provides base to measure progress Develops consensus on future direction Builds strong teams Solves major problems Benefits of Strategic Planning

6. Strategic PlanningExercise 1 • Introduce participants to strategic planning • Relate some experiences with strategic planning and any best practices

7. Strategic PlanningExercise 2 • Explore and discuss various examples of planning

8. Types of Planning • Types of planning • Strategic planning • Business planning • Project planning • Program planning • Municipal planning • Planning as a profession • Professional “planners” • Planning functions in other professions

9. Strategic PlanningExercise 3 • To discuss how personality affects how groups work together to develop a strategic plan or any type of plan

10. Strategic Planning Models • Type of organization usually dictates type of strategic planning • Non-profit • Likely focus on board development, management, fundraising, policies • For- Profit • Likely focus on profit and strategic directions

11. Types of Strategic Planning • Basic Strategic Planning • Issue-Based or Goals-Based Strategic Planning • Alignment Model • Scenario Planning • Organic (or Self-Organizing) Planning

12. Planning to PlanExercise 4 • Discuss the planning phase of strategic planning by brainstorming some pre-requisites needed to undertake the strategic planning process

13. Planning to Plan • Planning to plan requires: • Organizational readiness • Recognition of need to plan • Commitment to plan • Organizational commitment • Board and volunteer commitment • Staff commitment

14. Planning to Plan • Organizational Capacity • Human resources • Staff • Volunteers • Board committees • Special/Standing committees • Financial resources • Identify budget • Determine resources • Time • Allocate organizational time • Determine realistic time lines

15. Reasons for Strategic Planning • Change • Renewal • Funding requirement • Financial forecasting • Mandate • Build consensus • Improve staff and board relations • Develop ownership • Build community support • Other (discussion)

16. Planning to PlanExercise 5 • Why do you want to engage in strategic planning?

17. Strategic Planning Process • Planning to Plan • Strategic Planning Team • Board, staff, community volunteers • Strategic Planning Budget • Establish budget, identify funding sources • Strategic Planning Facilitator(s) • Identify a facilitator to lead the process • Strategic Planning Partners • Internal board and staff • External community groups/government departments/others

18. Developing the Plan • Mission • Core purpose of your organization • Presented in a clear, short statement that focuses on attention in one clear direction by stating purpose of the group’s uniqueness.

19. Developing the Plan • Vision • What is your organization’s vision of excellence • Has to be realistic and not something impractical

20. Developing the Plan • Values • What are the principles, standards, and actions considered worthwhile in the organization • Includes how people treat each other, how groups conduct business and what is most important to the organization

21. Developing the Plan • Strategic Analysis • Environmental Scan • gathering of information that concerns the organization’s environments • analysis and interpretation of this information • application of this analyzed information in decision making

22. Developing the Plan • Strategic Analysis • SWOT Analysis • Strengths • What are some internal positive things about your organization? • What does the community see as your strengths? • Weaknesses • What are some weaknesses in organization? • What does the community see as your weaknesses?

23. Developing the Plan • Strategic Analysis • SWOT Analysis • Opportunities • What are some opportunities in your community or region? • What are some emerging trends? • Threats • What are some provincial or national issues facing the organization? • What are some technology issues that face the organization?

24. Strategic Planning Process • Developing the Plan (continued) • Goals • Identify long-term outcomes to provide focus for the planning process • Strategies • Outline how you will achieve your goals • Objectives • Identify specific, measurable results produced while implementing strategies.

25. Strategic Planning Process • Goals and Objectives Should Be SMARTER • Specific • Measurable • Acceptable • Realistic • Timeframe • Extending • Rewarding

26. Strategic Planning Process • Developing the Plan (continued) • Implementation • Tasks – assigned to various board and staff responsible for specific items • Timelines - established for implementation of the plan for implementation • Funding the plan • What is required to fund the goals in the plan

27. Strategic Planning Process • Developing the Plan (continued) • Communicating the plan • How will you communicate the plan to stakeholders? • Monitoring and evaluation • Critical to plan’s success and credibility • Must be built into the plan • Critical for continuous improvement • Continuous improvement • focuses on improving customer satisfaction through continuous and incremental improvements to processes

28. Strategic Planning ProcessExercise 6 • Prepare a SWOT analysis as part of the strategic planning process

29. Strategic Planning ProcessExercise 7 • Discuss some tools and techniques to be used for strategic planning

30. Strategic Planning Tools & Techniques • Appreciative Inquiry • Effective for changing organizational culture • Based on 4-D model • Discover, Dream, Design and Destiny • Open Space Technology • new method for working effectively with large groups (10 - 1000 participants)

31. Strategic Planning Tools & Techniques • Public Consultation • Involve public and stakeholders in your planning process • Achieve public consultation through • Interviews • Facilitated meetings • Open houses • Website discussion papers/surveys

32. Strategic Planning Tools & Techniques • Public Meeting • Provides opportunity for input for all stakeholders through • Open house to review plans, maps, charts • Facilitated meeting with presentation on what you plan to do • Facilitated meeting on interim and final report

33. Strategic Planning Tools & Techniques • Focus Groups • Provides opportunity to address specific issues • Provides opportunity for maximum participation • Provides maximum information in short period of time

34. Strategic Planning Tools & Techniques • Website feedback • Online survey • Online discussion paper to generate comments • Surveys • Online survey • Community survey • Can be developed and administered locally • Can be conducted by firm specializing in surveys • Research • Focus groups, surveys (primary) • Literature review (secondary)

35. Strategic Planning • Parking Lot • Summary • Evaluation