Strategic Planning and Evaluation

Strategic planning is a way for organizations to set a course for the future. They tell how they'll get where they want to go and establish clear indicators to show when they have arrived.

Organizational planning can vary greatly depending upon such factors as the size of the organization, the culture, and the leadership, but goal-based planning is probably the most common.

Goals-based planning starts with the mission statement. Businesses and non-profits present a mission and values that reflect what they're all about. Long-range plans have goals that work toward the mission, strategies to show how they will achieve those goals, and action plans that delegate responsibilities and set specific deadlines.

Action plans must reflect long-range goals. These action plans are "on the ground" ways for divisions or department to "make it happen" on a short-term basis (e.g., annually).

Assessment plays a critical role in keeping the organization on track. It starts with determining where they are and offers objective measures of progress toward goals. Assessments show how far along an organization is and when it has arrived.

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