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STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT FORWARD PLANNING Planning is a critical part of the management of a voluntary and community project. Forward planning is an important part of this strategic approach to management. This planning involves identifying the current position of your organisation, what you want to achieve over an agreed period of time, and how you intend to achieve this, taking into account the resources available to you and the environment you will have to operate in. The use of a forward planning strategy allows you to prioritise resources and to set out clear targets. Generally a strategic plan is developed for a substantial period of time, such as three to five years. Within that time span, you should also detail more specific tasks for shorter periods of time, usually one year. These long and short term plans are then reviewed periodically to assess achievements, and changes to the environment in which you are operating with a view to amending your forward planning. There are four key areas that you should incorporate into your strategic plan, these are:
Before you start your project, take time to forward plan. And plan to review and adjust these plans regularly. This is important, because once you begin to operate the actual project, you will find little time to step back and get the bigger picture, unless you have planned to stop and review as you go along. The first attempt at a development plan is always the hardest, take advice. The second time you review you will have the original plan to build on so it won't ever be as difficult again. Clearly, in developing a forward plan you need to decide who will be involved in this process, who will be charged with implementing it and who will remember to review it at appropriate times. And most important, make sure that the strategic plan is a clear, accessible and well-used document that assists the work of everyone involved with the project. That way you will ensure that the plans are being implemented.
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