Chapter Planning

Keys to Making Planning More Effective

Don Boyer

July

Today

We have only 20 minutes, so our limited outline is:

Definitions

Highlights, How-to’s

Resources for further preparation

Q&A

Note: Although we are talking about Chapter Planning, the same approach works on your work projects or family vacations

July

Context - Sequence

Elect Chapter Officers

Collect input from members on what they value

Train Chapter Officers as a team (or review/tailor training for a continuing leadership team) soon after election (before taking office)

Plan as a team. Create/update Strategic Plans; Develop Operational Plans

Review/update plans as needed - at least once or twice a year

July

Resources

Keys to Effective Chapters wiki

How-to’s and examples of planning

Chapter Planning Workbook

& Accompanying Chapter Plans Template

Alice in Wonderland

July

Engineers can be like Alice – ‘We don’t have time for a plan, let’s just get started doing’

"Cheshire Puss,...Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?""That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat."I don't much care where--" said Alice."Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat."--so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation."Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

- Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

July

http://keys-to-effective-ch.wikispaces.com/Planning

July

Plans are nothing; planning is everything.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Producing a plan because it is required is worthless, whereas planning together bonds and aligns the team and puts the best new ideas into motion.

July

Why Plan?

Provide maximum value to members

Align the leadership team – get all on the same page

Reduce stress, panics, and glitches throughout the year

Continuity - plans accommodate sudden changes in leadership

Makes it easier to bring in new leadership team members

And – reduce the probability of a disaster

July

Harvard Business School found:

"2 out of 3 HR and IT departments develop plans that are not linked to the company's overall strategy".

"Most devastatingly, 95% of employees do not understand their company's strategy.  (How are they supposed to execute a plan if they don't understand it?)"

Why Plan?

July

Although some chapter leaders have experience with strategic and organizational operations planning, many have not yet had the opportunity.

Therefore, we have organized a “cookbook” approach that anyone should be able to follow.

This planning should not only help your chapter but also help develop your personal career.

‘But I Don’t Know How to Plan!’

July

Strategic vs Operational PlanningWhat’s the difference?

Strategic planning envisions the future and develops an approach to achieve that future

Strategic planning is worthless - unless there is first a strategic vision that is shared among the leadership.

Strategic plans define the vision of you want to achieve and provides the context for Operational planning

Operational plans are the incremental steps to achieve your Strategic plans.

July

Strategic Planning

Base plans on what your members most value

Find out through member surveys or town hall meetings

Use a SWOT analysis to get things rolling

Ensure the leadership team is involved & also consider inviting all members to participate – nobody knows everything; nobody knows nothing

Create a shared Vision of what you want your chapter to be

Set measurable Goals for the next 5 years

July

Operational Planning

Details of activities for the coming year based on Vision and Goals set out in the Strategic Plan.

Include roles & responsibilities, schedule and budget.

Plans are a living document with updates to be done iteratively, refining details throughout the year.

July

Operational Planning

Chapter events

Meetings/tutorials/activities

Chapter communications – website(s), emails, social media, newsletters

Membership – recruiting and retention, student division

July

Operational Planning, p2

Technical plans

Local and international Working Groups

Promotion of certification

Involvement at IW and IS

July

Operational Planning, p3

Promoting INCOSE

Other chapters support and joint work

Financial support

Nominations for INCOSE awards

Promoting IW and IS

July

Operational Planning, p4

Outreach & Collaboration

Invitations to chapter events

Going to corporate, educational, and community entities, joint meetings with other associations

Speakers from CAB or other local companies

Financial support or venue provided by CAB

Recruiting new local sponsors or CAB companies

Collaboration/support to local school/universities

July

Operational Planning, p5

Chapter Operations & Local Recognition

Leadership team meetings

Annual open elections

Promotion through electronic ‘banner’ at meetings

Recognition of noteworthy contributors to chapter

Recognition/thank you letters

July

Operational Planning, p6

Chapter top level schedule

Chapter budget

Independent review/audit

July

Systematic Approach

There are so many great possibilities for your chapter you can get overwhelmed

Ask participants to prepare beforehand

Consider separate sessions for Strategic and Operational planning

Tools to help

Chapter Planning Workbook & Template found on the Wiki

Example plans, how-to’s found on the Wiki

July

Chapter Planning Workbook The Workbook includes most everything that

could be done, so needs to be tailored to fit your chapter

Organized around the Chapter Awards criteria

The Introduction discusses planning methodology

The Workbook has suggestions and worksheets to fill in for all the different topics during your planning session

Assign responsibilities, budget, deadlines

July

Chapter Planning Workbook Sample

July

Chapter Planning Workbook Sample

July

Chapter Planning Workbook Sample

JulyQuestions?