Strategic Plan IMPLEMENTATION

When the planning retreat adjourns few participants give much thought to the NEXT STEPS.   Without a schedule for implementation the plan may have negligible impact. 

The Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association has depicted 7-steps for strategic plan implementation.

a.       Approval by a Motion of the Board – Between conclusion of the retreat and the next meeting of the board, the plan should be formatted with details about performance metrics and accountability.  At the next board meeting a director should make a motion to recognize the new plan as the new roadmap for directors, committees and staff.

b.      Alignment of Committees and Task Forces – Goals set at the retreat without respective work force talent are likely to lose momentum or fail.  After the retreat consider how committees align, collaborate and if task forces need to be appointed.

c.      Chapter Alignment and Promotion – For an association with components or chapters, the strategic plan should serve as a framework for their efforts.    (Remember, “You are only as strong as the weakest link.”)

d.      Member and Stakeholder Awareness – Share the plan’s new goals and priorities with the membership and stakeholders.  Make the COMMITMENT that these are the priorities to which the board will allocate resources and advance significant results.   (MCPA transformed their goals into the acronym “APPLE”.)

e.      Periodic Reviews by the Board – From time to time the board agenda should include a plan update.  Ideally a “Plan Champion” has been appointed who tracks and reports on progress.

f.       Annual Review – At the board’s yearly orientation, include a review of the strategic plan. New directors need to be acquainted with the plan while current directors benefit from a recap.  

g.      Three Year Update – Budget for an update about every three years.  A well-drafted plan might be extended a year with tweaking, without the need for a complete rewrite.  The mission and goals should remain consistent unless internal and external variables changed.

For the latest on tips , tools and techniques on strategic plan implementation contact ASAE’s bookstore to ask for “STRATEGIC INTEGRATION” at www.asaecenter.org/publications.  

Bob Harris, CAE, provides free nonprofit governance tips and templates at www.nonprofitcenter.com.