PLANNING APPROACH
SYSTEMS APPROACH
Strategic planning is a systematic, formal process that is used to set priorities, focus energy and resources to ensure that all organizational members are working toward common goals. It establishes agreement around intended outcomes and assesses and adjusts the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment and fire service safety needs.
Fire Department Safety Officers Association has chosen to take a systems approach with the end in mind when developing its strategic plan. This systems approach incorporates strategic thinking, leading and leadership development, people, technology, processes, change management, effective communication, inclusion and transparency, internal and external stakeholder input and organization culture.
WHEN DONE EFFECTIVELY, STRATEGIC PLANNING:
Feedback loops are incorporated to promote continuous improvement and learning. A periodic cycle (annually) is established to refresh the system. This approach can be demonstrated using the Lead-Think-Plan-Act (LTPA) rubric.1
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Provides direction for where the Association is going and how it will get there.
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Identifies the Association’s potential through identification of its strengths and weaknesses.
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Facilitates a process that results in the best allocation of resources that provides the most benefit for Association members.
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Ensures accountability to members and is based on credible data.
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Provides an opportunity to question the status quo.
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Provides direction and prioritization for annual budget development and short-range operational plans.
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Creates a participatory process in which all Association leaders take on shared ownership of the plan.
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Develops a coherent and defensible basis for decision making. Builds a shared vision for the Association that is mission and values based.
Lead
The strategic plan should be simple and straightforward.
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The strategic plan should be based on open and honest dialog.
Analyze, understand and forecast the Association’s current and future internal and external environment.
Enable the leadership team to develop and execute an efficient strategic plan.
LTPA
Facilitated by the strategic plan consultant, the FDSOA Board of Directors met virtually a total of seven times during the period of January to July 2021, to discuss and develop the strategic plan. The Board of Directors identified five principles that would guide development of the plan: •
Think
Act Implement and execute the plan. Reprioritize or adapt as necessary. Measure and report on a regular basis.
Plan Determine and clearly articulate the organization's strategy that includes exploring and analyzing options.
• The strategic plan will be able to pivot as necessary to react to health/wellness/safety issues as they emerge during the effective time period of the plan. • The strategic plan must have an effective system for implementation and performance measurement.
The LTPA approach model:
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• There will be an accountability process in place for those responsible for the completion of the goals in the plan.
Promotes a strategic culture that results in continuous improvement Reinforces the Association’s mission Promotes communication throughout the organization Integrates risk management throughout the process
The virtual meetings included identification of strategic issues through a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges (SWOC) analysis process; the development of foundational focus areas and the subsequent creation of goals and objectives. The Board also took the strategic planning opportunity to redevelop FDSOA’s Mission and Vision statements. (p. 5). 8
Fire Department Safety Officers Association
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Guide to the Strategic Planning and Strategic Management Body of Knowledge, Second Edition. Association of Strategic Planning. 2015.
2022-2024 Strategic Plan
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