Importance of Strategic Planning
The Importance of Strategic Planning
In the non-profit world
Managing Organizational Change
Professor Kevin Hume
August 25, 2012
Contents
INTRODUCTION: 2
PRE-PLANNING PROCESS: 3
THE PLANNING PROCESS: 4
FIGURE 1 7
UNDERSTANDING STRATEGIC PLANS……………………….………………………………………8
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………….……………………….9
WORKS CITED 10
INTRODUCTION: In business it is important to understand that in order to be successful you must first make a plan. There is a very common motto which is tossed around the business world which conveys success in those specific terms; plan the work and work the plan. This is stating that to be successful you must first plan out what exactly you want to accomplish, and then in order to accomplish it you must follow the plan you created. Plans must be carefully constructed and thoroughly thought through. Being specific is also extremely important, especially when it comes to the timeframe in which you want things to be completed by (Rowley, 1997). Timelines for a project must be extremely specific, yet flexible at the same time. Strategic planning is the actual process of creating the plan, attributing the resources and committing to a specific goal (Cook, 1996). In the non-profit world, it is absolutely imperative to have a very detailed and specific plan in place in order to be successful. The reasoning behind this is the fact that non-profit organizations have very little expendable funding available to implement changes, and when funding is sought, foundations want a detailed plan of how the organization is going to implement the change. As a grant-writer, it has become clear that a strategic plan is absolutely necessary for the successful capture of project funding. Luckily, Addictions Recovery Center has a carefully selected board which is passionate about substance abuse recovery, and they have put in the effort and time necessary for a successful strategic plan. When being a key stakeholder in the creation
In the non-profit world
Managing Organizational Change
Professor Kevin Hume
August 25, 2012
Contents
INTRODUCTION: 2
PRE-PLANNING PROCESS: 3
THE PLANNING PROCESS: 4
FIGURE 1 7
UNDERSTANDING STRATEGIC PLANS……………………….………………………………………8
CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………….……………………….9
WORKS CITED 10
INTRODUCTION: In business it is important to understand that in order to be successful you must first make a plan. There is a very common motto which is tossed around the business world which conveys success in those specific terms; plan the work and work the plan. This is stating that to be successful you must first plan out what exactly you want to accomplish, and then in order to accomplish it you must follow the plan you created. Plans must be carefully constructed and thoroughly thought through. Being specific is also extremely important, especially when it comes to the timeframe in which you want things to be completed by (Rowley, 1997). Timelines for a project must be extremely specific, yet flexible at the same time. Strategic planning is the actual process of creating the plan, attributing the resources and committing to a specific goal (Cook, 1996). In the non-profit world, it is absolutely imperative to have a very detailed and specific plan in place in order to be successful. The reasoning behind this is the fact that non-profit organizations have very little expendable funding available to implement changes, and when funding is sought, foundations want a detailed plan of how the organization is going to implement the change. As a grant-writer, it has become clear that a strategic plan is absolutely necessary for the successful capture of project funding. Luckily, Addictions Recovery Center has a carefully selected board which is passionate about substance abuse recovery, and they have put in the effort and time necessary for a successful strategic plan. When being a key stakeholder in the creation
Cited: Addictions Recovery Center. (2012). Retrieved from www.addictionsrecovery.org Chaudron, D Cook, W. (1996). Site Planning. Montgomery, AL: Colonial-Cambridge. Morrisey, G. (1996). Morrisey on planning: A guide to strategic thinking. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Rigatuso, C. (2007). Aligning strategic and operational planning with balanced scorecard techniques. Retrieved August 22, 2012 from: http://www.lenskold.com/content/articles/rigatuso_aug07.html Rowley, D.J Sawyer, E. & Howard, C (2007). Online learning program strategic planning and execution: Considering goals, benefits, problems, and communities of practice. Journal of College Teaching and Learning, 4(8), 99-112. Spencer, M. & Winn, B. (2005). Evaluating the success of strategic change against Kotter’s eight steps. Planning for Higher Education, 33(2) 15-22.