Development of Key Strategies and Priorities in Changing Times

This is Module 3 of the Professional Certificate in Leadership for Elected Local Government Officials Program

Review the key elements of a successful strategy development and implementation approach, and reframe your thinking about how accountability, responsibility, innovation and results-orientation all combine to revitalize leadership in the municipal sector.

Module Overview: Learn how to ensure your strategic plan doesn't sit on the shelf through the application of results-oriented strategies that are compatible with your organizational capacity

Key Outcomes You will learn to:

• Produce strategic plans that do not sit on a shelf
• Set realistic strategic priorities
• Ensure good strategic planning process design
• Develop shared expectations for success
• Establish an ongoing strategic adaptation process
• Translate strategic priorities into action
• Get everyone on the same page

Program Content

DAY ONE : Strategic Context Systems Thinking

• The open systems model to take a holistic approach to planning
• Emerging paradigms to understand the contemporary local government context
• Establishing the rationale to obtain buying to undertake a strategy process

Strategic Process

• The 4 P's of good process to guide design and assess progress
• Key phases & steps to visually chart the process
• Identifying external interests to involve in the process
• Engaging internal and external stakeholders in the process

Strategic Planning

• The notion of shared expectations to paint as future vision
• Using both observable and measurable indicators
• Creating a vision score card to assess the present conditions
• Clarifying the mandate to ensure everyone is on the same page

DAY TWO : Strategic Action Strategic Assessment

• Examining external influences that impact the community
• Assessing the internal capacity of the organization
• Identifying issues and opportunities facing the organization and community
• Short listing key strategic topics for further examination

Strategic Choices

• Exploring strategic topics using a creative problem solving approach
• Assessing response options and developing action plans
• Developing action plans with defined activities and clear timelines
• Conducting a reality check to ensure success in strategic implementation

Strategic Implementation

• Determining now, next & later strategies using urgency criteria
• Establishing council and staff role clarity for implementing strategic priorities
• Linking the strategic priorities to day-today processes and activities
• Its an ongoing process! – tools for adaptation and monitoring

Directors