This presentation is designed to give an overview of the strategic planning process for those new to the process. It has been used with deans and other executives particularly in higher education, but it is applicable to any organization.

1. Strategic Planning and
Assessment
Kelly McMichael, Ed.D.
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2. Strategic Planning and Assessment
“Although change is inevitable and irresistible, surrendering
to it is not our only option. The goal of strategic thinking is to
understand the changing environment and to discover
creative responses that enable the organization to maintain
its core values and fulfill, its mission. Approached this way,
change need not be perceived as an enemy to be fought, but
as a source of new challenges to ministry and effectiveness.”
Guy S. Stafford
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3. Strategic Planning and Assessment
The Sigmoid Curve
B
A
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4. Four Phases of Strategic Planning Process
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
Environment Institutional Goals, Action
Mission and Issues, and Plans and
Assessment Objectives Strategies Priorities
Outcomes Assessment in Higher Education, by J.L. Green and P.M. Jonas (1997)
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5. Strategic Planning and Assessment
The Mission Statement
The organization’s philosophic reason for
existence stated as to why the organization
does what it does. It asks, “Why do we exist?”
“What drives us?” and “Who are we
attempting to impact?”
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6. Strategic Planning and Assessment
The Vision Statement
The organization’s identifiable strategy and
envisioning as to how it will accomplish its
mission. It asks, “What is our preferred
future?” “What future changes do we want to
effect?” and “What strategies will be
continuous in achieving our mission?”
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7. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Plan for
Forces
Resources Planning
Political
People
Social
Skills Mission Philosophical
Information
Economic
Funding
Technical
Facilities Strengths Opportunities
Strategic
and and
Vision
Strategy Weaknesses Threats Clients
Overall Internal Status External Numbers
By Areas Environment Analysis Environment Trends
Profits
Major
Issues
Results Competitors
Constraints
Past Strategic Strength
Present Initiatives Overlap
Trends Numbers
Operational
Planning
Results
The Strategic Process (Stafford)
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8. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Social
Technological
Philosophical
Economic
Political
General Environment
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9. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Families Lifestyles
Crime
Cities and Suburbs
Gender Issues Aging
Race Mobility
Social Environment
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10. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Religions
Worldviews
Cults
Unchurched
Secularization
Philosophical Environment
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11. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Debt Trade
Investing Taxes
Inflation Unemployment
Savings Poor/Rich
Economic Environment
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12. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Hiring Legislation
Activism Courts
Church/State Law Enforcement
Zoning Civil Rights
Political Environment
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13. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Computerization
Telecommunications
Nanotechnology
Biotechnology
Energy
Technological Environment
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14. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Parents Students
Media Board
Institution
Alumni State
Faculty
Vendors
Donors Staff
Stakeholder Map
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(Adapted from G. Saffold)
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15. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Strategic Issues are those combinations of
problems, opportunities, threats, and
challenges which must be addressed by the
organization if it is to fulfill its mission and
vision.
They may or may not be large challenges, but
they are critical issues for the organization.
Without solutions these issues will hinder
success.
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16. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Strategic Initiatives are the developed solutions
for the issues and include:
 identifying alternatives
Evaluating limitations for each alternative
Selecting the initiative(s) to address each issue
Determining action steps, people, and schedule
for implementing change
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17. Strategic Planning and Assessment
SWOT Analysis
Our Strengths The means to maintain
Our Weaknesses The means to minimize
(Internal challenges)
Our Opportunities The means to exploit
Our Threats The means to mitigate
(External challenges)
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18. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Centralized Annual Planning Cycle-BHU
Procedure Report to Report Collaborative Department Department Cost Budget New Plan Budget Evaluation
President to Board Follow-up Input Planning Analysis Approval
Date July I October October November November December January 30 February 15 March April
1 15 15
Responsible Research President Research & Department Department President Planning Planning Board Cabinet and
Entity and Planning, Heads Heads Council of Council of Research &
Planning President, the Board the Board Planning
Finance,
Admissions
Document Report Report Report Minutes Report Report Minutes Report Minutes Minutes
Description Assessment Board Previous goals Leaders meet Complete Cost analysis Recommend Written Plan Formal The planning
results and projects are reviewed. with their reports and budget initial budget to Board approval for process is
review of major respective made to the presented to for coming based on next evaluated for
strengths, goals for Revision of departments president Planning fiscal year projected academic its relevance
needs, and coming previous year’s for input with Council of budget by year to
opportunity fiscal year goals. based on projections the Board Copy to Planning assessment
based on follow-up for this year and the Board Council measures
Copies given Revision of document and next Finance
to and This enrollment from October Committee Suggested
reviewed by becomes projections and of the Board changes are
Department the basis income Budget reflected in
Heads for projections requests are minutes and
planning reviewed copied to
This and with budget Research and
document change sheets from Planning
becomes previous
the basis for years’ stats
Institutional
Evaluation
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19. Strategic Planning and Assessment
Institutional
Assessment
Results
Dissemination of
Departmental Department
Assessment Plan as Evaluation of
Report to President Results in light of
or Institutional previous goals
Assessment and and needs
Planning
“Closing the Loop”
Generation of
Documentation
revised Goals and
of departmental
Budget with
data, plans, and
departmental
budget
staff
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