All effective organizations have some form of a strategic plan or operations guide, especially larger organizations. Sometimes they may not identify these processes as a strategic plan, but most do. Many have the foundations of their strategic plan, the Mission, and sometimes Goals, set aside and published, although there may be many layers of activities, guides, work programs, and organizaitonal/work structures that are used to guide the work of all persons in the organization.
We will use EWU as a Case Study to demonstrate their structure and the processes they used to create a Strategic Plan Vision, Mission, and Goals, and how it is operationalized across campus. We will later assess each step of our “management” sections (assignments) with relation to EWU, with an emphasis on each of our professional program areas–HSAD, Planning, Public Administration.
EWU’s current Strategic Plan was developed by our past President, Dr. Arrevelo (Dr. A). A “team” of around 40 people representing all segments of the University was selected to develop the Strategic Plan to be completed in a six-month process. The previous Strategic Plan had been developed by a much larger group with subcommittees that involved over 200 faculty, students, staff and administrators and took almost three years to approve. It had much more detail, achieved much more agreement, but the length of time was a serious problem for its implementation. By the time the old plan was completed, many from the various committees had lost interest in fully implementing the plan. As a member of the “team,” I was concerned this short process would limit input, but in the end there were open forums, and targeted surveys as well as open surveys on-line so that anyone from each group could participate in the review and comment period.
Here is the EWU Strategic Plan EWU Strategic Plan.pdfPreview the documentView in a new window
Please read this document carefully–it is short. Answer the following:
1. What are the key sections of this plan? Describe how they relate to you and to your discipline (HSAD, Planning, PA). What is the relationship from one section to another? How do these sections lead to action? Describe and be prepared to discuss in class.
2. For this document, consider how it is presented. Who is to view and consider this document–students? administrators? faculty? state legislators? businesses? the public? parents? Pick three of these groups and explain how they might respond. How does the layout and graphics reinforce the model or create an image for the University. Who’s Strategic Plan is this? How does that impact its implementation. Who is listed as authors or contributors?
3. What do you think of this plan? Does it resonate with you? Do you feel it represents a guide for “your” EWU? Explain and describe. Highlight areas where components of the strategic plan directly relate to our professional programs. Be prepared to discuss in class. Do you think the strategies are clearly stated–do you know the priorities of EWU? Do you think they provide a direction for the University? Now that we have a new President do you think this Strategic Plan will change? Why or why not.
The Strategic Plan is presented on a page that re-states the University goals.
http://www.ewu.edu/inspiringthefuture/strategic-plan
