Why This Matters

Building a strategic plan sets a vision for an end goal, laying a framework for how to achieve intended outcomes. This includes:

• Identifying priority issues, clear objectives, and focus in order to mitigate unintended shifts.
• Clearly outlining resource needs and where resources can be applied efficiently and effectively for maximum impact.
• Clarifying communication to others by articulating a vision and defining to stakeholders and audiences alike what is to be accomplished.
• Spotlighting the core mission of efforts and the defining values of a project.
• Putting in place efficient project management to carry out the work.
• Laying the groundwork for monitoring and evaluation, including defining benchmarks to determine when success has been achieved and redirecting work if shortfalls are realized.
• Guiding individual talent and time by outlining the outputs and outcomes a project will achieve to help measure and track progress toward a common goal. This is especially useful in aiding the definition of individual capacity and the prioritization and application of resources.

Included resources highlight best practices for how to approach strategic planning; the value of experience and personal proficiencies for impact; and examples of action-oriented strategies to aid intended outcomes.