Strategic Planning Process

Strategic planning is often presented as a complex process with many steps. It may be easier to think about it in terms of five broad steps, each of which includes some specific activities.

Step 1: Decide where you're going

The first step in your strategic planning journey is to determine your destination. In a strategic plan, this includes defining or re-evaluating your mission, values, vision for the future and long-range goals.

Step 2: Identify what will help or hurt along the way

This is where you use your environmental scan. You’ll look at the external trends that may pose opportunities or threats. You’ll evaluate your internal capabilities, both strengths and weaknesses. And you’ll assess the needs of your members. Once you’ve completed this step, review the mission, vision, values and goals you developed in step 1 and determine if any changes are necessary, given the environment in which your association is operating.

Step 3: Determine how you'll reach your destination

In this step, you formulate your specific objectives and strategies. At this level, you’ll include measurable activities so you can evaluate your progress. Prioritize your objectives for Year "1".

Step 4: Link to operations

Use your Year "1" objectives to develop your annual budget and work plans (both staff and committee work plans). Evaluate your current activities for fit with the strategic plan and eliminate those that do not contribute to the achievement of your strategic plan. Define an annual planning cycle for your association with dates for (1) review/refresh strategic plan, (2) develop annual work plan, (3) develop annual budget, (4) adopt work plan and budget, (5) interim reports, (6) evaluation.

Step 5: Keep track of your progress

Create a system of regular reports from committees and staff and evaluate your progress. Annually review and refresh the strategic plan for the following year. Remember that strategic planning is an ongoing process, not a one-time (or even annual) event.