Planning
    models A - Strategic plans 
  There
      are a variety of definitions and models for strategic planning. Some commonly
      accepted attributes of a strategic plan are that: 
  
    -  it
        deals with fundamental questions such as: Who are we servicing? Who should
        we be servicing?
 
    -  it
        provides a framework for day to day detailed planning;
 
    -  it
        typically involves a time frame of two to five years (sometimes more
        or less depending on the nature of the organisation);
 
    -  it
        provides coherence to an organisation's actions and decisions over time;
 
    -  it
        is an activity that must inevitably involve all levels of management,
        for example, Management Committees and Centre coordinators.
 
   
  One strategic
      planning model includes the following ten steps. The weighting given to
      each step may vary depending on the nature of the organisation and its
      planning needs.   
  A.
          What are we doing? 
  1.
        Define the Purpose and Mission of the organisation. This
        may involve the development of a mission statement. A mission statement
        is a statement that answers the following questions: 
  
    -  Who
        are we?
 
    -  What
        needs do we intend to meet?
 
    -  Whose
        need?
 
    -  What
        do we intend to do to meet the needs, ie what services do we intend to
        provide?
 
    -  What
        are our central values? (e.g. What do we believe in? What are we committed
        to? What is our philosophy/ideology?)
 
   
  Mission
      statements can be as short as a sentence or a paragraph. They are useful
      because they can be an agreed basis on what the organisation is about. 
  In a
      new project or service it is important to identify what is intended to
      happen. In an existing project or service it is important to identify what
      is actually happening at the moment. Whether what is happening should continue
      will become a question throughout the strategic planning process and especially
      in steps 7 and 8. 
  2.
        Identify current aims, objectives and strategy of the organisation. 
  The aims
      of the organisation are general statements of what it intends to achieve. 
  Objectives
      are also statements of what the organisation intends to achieve, however
      they are usually also specific, measurable, attainable and time bound. 
  The strategy
      is the description of how the objectives are going to be met. 
  B.
          Structured brainstorming 
  3.
        Environmental Analysis. The
        purpose of an environmental analysis is to identify the ways changes
        in the environment can indirectly influence the organisation. 
  The environment
      could include other services, funding bodies, other projects, government
      policy, community attitudes, and so on.  
  4.
        Resource Analysis. This
        would include a statement of all resources that are available for the
        development of the organisation. What resources are available to implement
        the aims and objectives of the organisation? 
  Resource
      analysis is also likely to include an analysis of the organisations strengths
      and weaknesses. Organisations can often successfully build on their strengths
      and develop strategies to minimise the negative effects of their weaknesses. 
  5.
        Stakeholder Analysis. Who
        are the stakeholders? What are their needs? Wants? Expectations? 
  Key stakeholders
      may include funding bodies, clients, staff, management committee members
      and volunteers. These people have a variety of views values and needs that
      will have an influence on the plans that are developed. 
  6.
        Identification of strategic opportunities and threats. These
        are the opportunities and threats that arise outside the organisation.   
  C.
          Creative leap 
  7.
        Identifying Strategic Choices. After
        the environment has been analysed and the strengths and weaknesses and
        opportunities and threats have been reviewed it is possible to better
        see the results of the existing strategy. The organisation can then identify
        strategic choices - whether or not to develop new strategies or modify
        the existing strategy. 
  8. Strategic decision-making 
  8.
        Choosing among the possible options. 
  D.
          Action 
  9.
        Implementation  
  Once
      the most appropriate strategy has been chosen it is implemented. 
  E.
        Evaluation  
  10.
        Evaluate the
        implementation and the level of success of the implementation of the
        strategy. 
        
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