Question - Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is complex and dynamic. Strategic initiatives may be developed in stages for short-range (1-5 years), mid-range (6-10 years), and long-range (11-30 years) planning. As you develop ideas of how to prepare for these stages and ranges of strategic planning, ask yourself what life will be like on our planet 5 years, 10, years, 20 years, and 30 years from now. What social, political, economic, technological, demographic, and other trends today are shaping our future, and how will they impact our organizations and communities? Long range strategic planning is a means to grow your awareness and provide an early warning of what's coming next in a world that is growing more interconnected, more crowded, and more depleted of critical natural resources.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the Learning Resources for this week.

Reflect on your experience with strategic planning in your organization.

An explanation as to why strategic thinking and planning is important for leaders of nonprofit and government organizations. Explain your experience with strategic planning in your organization, or in a government or nonprofit organization with which you are familiar. Evaluate whether the organization's strategic planning process has helped the organization plan for future surprises or events.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and outside scholarly resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues' postings in the following ways:

Describe additional potential benefits of strategic thinking and planning for leaders.

Offer alternative viewpoints and insights.

Ask for clarification, or ask a question to promote critical thinking.

Continue to engage with your colleagues in an academic discussion in which you contribute multiple meaningful, substantive ideas, suggestions, and insights on the focus topic. Present your posts and responses in a polished, professional manner with scholarly support.