As the world becomes a smaller place breaking boundaries, barriers and boarders; the circumstances within which an organization operates change at an ever growing pace, forcing organizations to change with them. This goes for every sector but in particular for the development sector it has become a critical issue. Regularly development organizations are forced to reflect on their own existence. What is the long term development objective that we pursue? What exactly do we want to contribute? What target groups do we want to reach? What are their needs and what should / could we offer them? These are some of the key questions that are answered in a Strategic Plan. A plan that ascertains the continued relevance of the organization reflecting the organizations identity and direction to both its staff and external stakeholders / partners.
Course objectives
The strategic planning course provides a conceptual framework, working methods tools for conducting / facilitating a participatory planning process towards the production of a strategic plan. The strategic plan describes the positioning of the organization in its development context including its ambitions for the coming years, its main target groups, core products and services along with operating principles. In addition the course explains how the strategic plan can be used as a guidance for organizational development and how it can serve as a basis for extrapolating more detailed operating plans.
The strategic planning course emphasizes the importance of both the technical content and the process of strategic planning to ensure that not only the right choices are made but at the same time commitment is built inside the organization towards those choices.
Participants
Board members, executive directors, managers, senior staff, consultants and advisors who are involved in the process of strategic planning at a development sector organization.
Course content
Developing your vision, mission and values
Developing the right vision, mission and the values of an organization is the start of any strategic planning process and the participants will learn to tools by which to develop them in a participatory way
External Analysis
Analysis of the external environment of the organization be it local / regional / international to understand the factors and actors effecting the operations of the organization
Internal Analysis
Analyzing the internal environment of the organization to understand constrains and the advantages the organization has within its control.
Development of the strategies
Choosing of the best options for the organization given its context and ambitions for successful implementation of the plan
Training method
The Training course will be delivered using the Adult Learning Cycle / Experiential Learning Cycle
SP Course outline
| Day 1 | Opening of the Course and Introductions Introduction to Strategic Planning Working within a Policy Cycle Strategic Planning concepts and setting up the planning process |
| Day 2 | Developing a vision Developing a mission Developing values Developing an operating framework |
| Day 3 | External Analysis External Analysis Internal Analysis Internal Analysis |
| Day 4 | Identifying and prioritizing Strategic Options Outline of the strategic planning document Converting the strategic plan into an annual operating plan Converting the strategic plan into an annual operating plan |
| Day 5 | Monitoring of the strategic plan Group discussion on how to implement learnings Personal Action Plan Evaluation, Certification & Wrap up |