Strategic Plan Step 1: Who Should be Involved?

The first stage in development of a strategic plan for the organisation involves determining who needs to be involved in the planning process.

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.

For further information on strategic planning and the other stages in the process, click on the links below:

• What is strategic planning?
• Step 2: Where are we now?
• Step 3:  Where are we going?
• Step 4:  How will we get there?
• Step 5:  Writing your plan
• Step 6:  Monitor and review