Strategic Planning {What is it? How do you do it?

2008

Table of Contents

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Content

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Introduction Section 1: The What of Strategic Planning Why should departments and agencies plan strategically? Section 2: The How of Strategic Planning How do I gather data and where do I get it from? Participant Selection Survey/focus group question development Core Values Development Organizational Purpose Development Organizational Vision Development Organizational Mission Development Organizational Goals and Objectives Development What are Action Steps and how are they developed? Performance Audit Review of Organizational Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats [SWOT]

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Gap Analysis Compare SWOT analysis information with Draft goals and objectives

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Contingency Planning Worst and Best Case Scenarios Integrated Functional Plans Action Steps Implementation Considerations Monitoring and Evaluation Short Cut Simplified Planning Model Section 3: Sample Plan Points to Remember

Introduction

This document is intended to provide the reader with information about strategic planning. It is organized into three sections to help the reader better understanding what strategic planning is about and how it is done. We have also provided a sample plan for your review. The complexity of your plan will depend upon the size and complexity of your organization. Smaller organizations may not need a complex plan while larger and/or more complex organizations may require more time, people and other resources to develop and implement their plan.

Section one of this document will cover the What and Why of strategic planning. This section answers the questions: What is strategic planning? Why should a state agency get involved in the strategic planning process?

Section two will address the How of strategic planning. This section will walk you through the steps in strategic planning and answer such questions as: What are the strategic planning Steps? Who should be involved in the planning process? How detailed does the strategic plan have to be? Ive heard a strategic plan has something called a purpose statement, vision and mission. Is that true? How do I create them? How will I know if our plan is successful?

Section three will provide a sample strategic plan for those organizations without a plan. The internet is an excellent source for examples of strategic plans and planning. Those state organizations with an existing strategic plan should continue working with their existing plan and need not make adjustments unless the plan is m