Masterclass in Strategic Planning

As part of the IMPACT through Strategy programme we invited David Saint of Action Planning to lead a master class in strategic planning. Joe Saxton of nfpSynergy chaired the event.

At this one-day seminar, David:

• Reviewed the principles and practicalities of strategic planning;
• Provided case study examples from homelessness agencies;
• Identified the barriers to effective strategic planning – and how to overcome them;
• Explored the key external issues that homelessness agencies need to respond to.

The seminar was primarily aimed at chief and other senior executives in agencies tackling homelessness – but was also suitable for trustees and committee members. It catered for those agencies that have already developed a strategic plan and who want to review their efforts against established good practice, as well as well as those who have limited experience in this field. As usual, two places were available free of charge to each agency that subscribes to the IMPACT through Strategy programme of the London Housing Foundation. Additionally for this seminar, a third free place was available specifically for trustees attending from those agencies.

Why is it important?

Agencies tackling homelessness face an extraordinary amount of change in their operating environment. In such circumstances it is vital that each agency – no matter what its size – has a clear and robust strategy. For larger agencies this will be quite sophisticated; for smaller it will be less so – but for all it is essential to know where you want to get to and how you plan to get there. Effective strategic planning provides the tools for this – even for the smallest agencies.

What the master class covered?

David Saint started the day with a review of the principles of strategic planning. This was followed by an exploration of two case studies – from Broadway and New Horizon Youth Centre. Time for discussion enabled participants to identify the barriers to strategic planning in their organisation and ways of addressing these. In the afternoon participants explored two separate strands: the process of designing and implementing a strategic plan and the external factors that are likely to influence agencies tackling homelessness.
The master class provided benefits for participants, whether from larger or smaller agencies, with or without their own strategic plan, including:

• A greater understanding of current good practice in strategic planning;
• Receipt of a practical model that provides a template to develop or strengthen your agency’s strategic plan;
• Identification of practical barriers to strategic planning – and ways of overcoming these;
• Clarification of some of the external factors that may impinge on your agency’s work – and how to prepare;
• A greater understanding of how other homelessness agencies are addressing strategic planning and the issues and problems they have identified;
• The opportunity for agencies to record their continuing needs for support/assistance in developing effective organisational strategies.

Agency wins free consultancy support

One of the agencies attending the master class has won two days free consultation from David Saint to help them review or outline how to develop their own strategic plan. Come back soon to find out who.