Overview: Plans put purpose into action. The "mental map" to do work is universal. We picture in our minds what we want to do--a goal. Then we think about the steps--or plan--to move toward results. People everywhere repeat the same pattern every day. Strategic plans map a network of tasks, objectives, and goals that, taken together, provide a group map for success.

How Strategic Planning Works: Strategic plans provide a clear and visible framework to unite understanding and action--especially during times of change and uncertainty. Strategic plans involve activities and objectives that mark the path to reach specific goals--or to achieve results. Strategic plans identify day-to-day activities and responsibilities of individuals and teams and show how the parts and the whole are related.

The Payoff: Used to develop an informed and involved workforce, results oriented work models, and timely and high quality service or results. Community and organization leaders can use strategic planning to involve all of a group or organization in the planning--or to involve members of a leadership team that is fully representative of the larger group.

How to Make It Happen: Facilitators develop group or organizational capacity to "work smart," using processes such as:

• common ground & mutual commitment,
• shared knowledge and future vision,
• team building and learning organization,
• dialog and system planning for results.

Used in communities and organizations--corporate, customer service, non-profit, international service networks, government--anywhere a "map" is needed to plan and navigate to shared goals.

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