What are your thoughts about the strategic planning process? How well is it working? What are specific strengths of the process from your perspectives? Have you encountered any barriers or difficulties to overcome?
Consider how these health organizations use strategic planning to address public health issues. Then, review the SWOT analysis tool provided. This tool refers to a Community of Practice (CoP), but this template may be used for documenting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to your Project public health problem (maternal and child health). If you prefer, you may create your own SWOT table.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.-e). SWOT analysis tool. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/phcommunities/resourcekit/resources.html#swot_analysis
- Community Tool Box. (2013). Chapter 8: Developing a strategic plan. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/structure/strategic-planning
Section I
Based on issues identified for the community health problem featured in your Project (maternal and child health), review the SWOT analysis tool provided (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-e).
Section III
Contact a health care/public health administrator involved in the strategic planning process. Conduct a brief interview (face-to-face, e-mail, or telephone) using the questions provided in the Public Health Administrator Interview Questions below:
Microsoft Word - PUBH_6031_Wk07_Interview_questions.doc
Public Health Administrator Interview Questions
- How do you conduct a strategic planning process?
- Who are the key individuals involved in the process?
- Describe how decision making and resource allocation are important to managing your strategic planning process.
- What you do you think are best practices for strategic planning?
- Do you have any suggestions and advice for someone new to the strategic planning process?
The Assignment: SWOT Table and Paper (4-5 pages):
Conduct an informal SWOT analysis. The analysis should include the following:
- Section I: SWOT Table (1 page)
- A completed SWOT table listing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to the public health leadership issue identified in your Final Project. Fill in the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the health problem identified. Then, provide a summary in which you describe your selected strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Why did you select these strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats over others? Include some strategies for minimizing weaknesses and capitalizing on strengths and opportunities.
- Section II: Using the SWOT Analysis (1 page)
- A narrative explanation of the SWOT findings
- An explanation of how, as a public health administrator, you might use the information obtained in the SWOT analysis in strategic planning, decision making, and resource allocation
- Section III: Administrator Interview Synopsis (2-3 pages):
- An interview with a public health administrator on strategic planning. Your interview may be conducted over the phone, Skype, e-mail, or in person if you prefer. (Note:You must transcribe or summarize your interview and post it.)
- Prepare your thoughts and questions carefully in advance, so you can be succinct in your interview. In your interview, you should ask the interviewee questions such as the following, as well as any other questions you think are appropriate to the organization or individual you are interviewing:
- How often do you and your organization engage in the strategic planning process?
- How do you utilize the strategic plan? Please describe this plan. (For example, how detailed is it? Is it a long-range plan?)
- Section IV- Following the interview, please complete the following:
- Write a synopsis of your findings.
- Explain the relationship between planning and decision making in resource allocation in the strategic planning process.