Stage 1: Who Should Be Involved?

Stage 1: Who Should Be Involved?

The Management Committee needs to decide who should be involved in the strategic planning process. Generally, it should involve as appropriate:

• those who will be implementing the plan (e.g. management, staff, volunteers);
• those who will be affected (e.g. members, users, etc);
• those who will monitor its implementation (e.g. Management Committee);
• others who can contribute to its development (e.g. community activists, funding bodies, etc).

When the Management Committee has decided who will be involved, it is necessary to decide at what level and how different stakeholders will contribute to the organisations planning for the future. There are many different ways stakeholders can be involved, such as:

• an open day with a number of workshops;
• a series of consultation meetings with specific groups;
• a call for written submissions;
• a questionnaire;
• a steering group made up of a range of stakeholders.

A combination of these approaches is likely to ensure that all groups/stakeholders have a say in developing the strategic plan.