Developing Strategic Direction
IDEC European Leadership SeminarLjubljana, Slovenia
January 24-25, 2014
Introduction/Overview to prepare for strategic planning
Group exercises to identify strengths, challenges and opportunities for growth
Identify one goal and develop objectives for achievement
Identify next steps for completion and implementation of the strategic plan
Today’s Activities
Predictions To Experiments
Data collection To Pattern recognition
Execution from top-down
to Execution by the WHOLE
Classic Strategy; Adaptive Strategy
Group Exercise: ask this…
What would cease to happen if your affiliate fell off the face of the Earth tomorrow?
What are the key challenges? Identify two to three biggest challenges you
face within your affiliate What challenges do you have in the day-to-
day operation of your affiliate?
Group Exercise
Building A New Membership Proposition
Professional Development Public Policy Engagement
Community Engagement
WHAT DOESN’T WORK:
FOCUS on RECRUITMENT
WHAT DOES WORK:
FOCUS on RETENTION
Membership Growth
Focus programs, services and products to attract and retain members
Create an interactive technology platform
Develop public value
Membership Recruitment and Retention
What Do We Need To Do?
Analyze trends: member data, program data and all sources of feedback
Identify opportunities Create new membership value proposition
(goals) Align governance, committee work and all
other resources to implement the plan
What are the key strengths of the association/council/affiliate?
What is your most popular membership service, program or activity?
What are your operating strengths? (i.e., recruiting members, managing financials, developing literacy leaders, attracting positive media attention, hosting profitable professional development activities, etc.)
Group Exercise
What are the key opportunities?
◦ What opportunities can you identify for development of new activities, programs and services?
◦ What are other similar organizations doing that are successful?
Group Exercise
Toward a New, Strong, Sustainable Network
Develop goals that are achievable, measureable
Drive resources to achieve goals Employ principles of strong business and
governance operations Utilize this professional network – IRA and
all its network to achieve the goals
Specific Measureable Achievable Relevant Time-bound
Developing S.M.A.R.T. Goals
• Increase website traffic by 25% by January 2015
• Develop one new online resource by May 2014
Sample Goal: National Resource for Literacy Educators
IRA’s Goals
Establish IRA as worldwide authority and #1 resource provider in literacy education
Increase membership value
Attain and maintain financial stability
Identify possible goals Prioritize two to three goals to be achieved
in the next two years Identify at least one priority goal and design
objectives applying S.M.A.R.T. criteria
National Affiliate Exercise
Completing the plan Organizing to accomplish goals Monitoring progress Modifying the plan
Next Steps