Strategic Planning
Setting the strategic direction for an organization and developing goals are both critically important. We recommend involving managers and employees from many levels in a Strategic Planning committee that is a diagonal slice of the organization. Engagement of many people builds commitment and creates buy–in to the plan.
We suggest a five- step process:
- Assessing the present state of the organization – what are the present strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.
- Developing a vision of the preferred future.
- Developing a strategy for getting to the preferred future.
- Setting three year goals and creating one year goals that are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attractive, Realistic and with Timetables.
- Communicating throughout the process to the entire organization
Future Search
A Future Search Conference is a powerful new large group planning process that makes possible the development of consensus among groups or organizations with diverse interests regarding a shared problem or issue. Ibis has used this highly effective methodology with international organizations, towns and cities, and non-profits. Topics have included gaining consensus on addressing teen moms in Hartford, developing goals for UNICEF in South Asia and developing a shared vision for the future for all the groups that participate in School to Work.
The conference usually involves 45 to 75 participants who come together for 2 to 3 days. Future Search outcomes include a vision of the future which is shared by all segments of a system, stakeholder commitments to action, as well as increased optimism, hope, choice, and will.
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