Presidents and Governors ForumSeptember 22nd and 23rd 2013

ASCE Headquarters Reston VA

STRATEGIC PLANNINGPresented by:

Jay Higgins, P.E.Region 9 Governor for Los Angeles Section

How many Sections and Branches have a strategic plan?

Words that describe a strategic plan?

What is a Strategic Plan?

• It is a roadmap• It is a yard stick

When a Strategic Plan is Created Make Sure

Everyone “On Board”

Everybody “on board” with the plan

Team members deviating from the plan

Not as Planned; Anticipate problems

What is Strategic Planning?

“Strategic Planning is an organization’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on

allocating its resources to pursue this strategy” 1

1 J. Scott Armstrong (1968). “ The value of Formal Planning for Strategic Decisions: A reply”. Strategic Management Journal 7: 183-185

Two Key Components Before Strategic Plan is Developed:

Vision – what a organization wants to be; long term view and concentrates on the future

Mission – fundamental purpose of the organization; succinctly describes why it exists

ASCE Vision

Civil engineers are global leaders building a better quality of life.

. ASCE Mission

Provide essential value to our members and partners, advance civil engineering, and serve the public good.

ASCE ‘sThree Strategic Initiatives:

• Infrastructure - raise America’s grades

• Professional Engineering Practice – “Raise the bar” to future entry

• Sustainability - a more sustainable natural and built environment

Focus Only on ASCE’s Initiatives?

• Not necessarily, however: Make the Section/Branch members

aware of the Society’s initiatives

• Focus efforts on accomplishing your strategic plan goals to benefit your local members

 

Developing a Strategic Planning?

How do we start the process?

Start With Blank Page

Ask these fundamental questions:

What do we really want to do?

For whom do we do it?

Los Angeles Section Prepared a Strategic Plan in 2009

8,000 MembersSeven Branches

Six Younger Member ForumsOne Life Member Forum

12 Student Chapters

Developing a Strategic Planning – What is the Process?

Los Angeles Section used this process:

• Special Board meeting including the Committee Chairso Meeting took about 4 hours

• Room with a lot of wall space o Have large poster size “Post-Its”

• Start with a brainstorming sessiono Anything and everything is on the table for

consideration

Brainstorming/Freely Flowing Thoughts:

“True creativity comes when people stop trying to be the

smartest person in the room.”1

1 Eric McNulty Strateggy+Business online

Developing a Strategic Planning – What is the

Process?

• Will end up with several goals More than could possibly

could accomplished• Create a prioritized list

Developing a Strategic Planning – What is the Process?

• Focus your efforts on the top three goals• Keep another two goals at most on the

list• Focus on the objectives and action items

for getting there• Update the plan every three to five

years 

Developing a Strategic Planning – What is the

Process?

• Goals must be measurable and attainable • Sometimes your perception is

not reality

 

Think about adding graphics in your Strategic Plan?

Close

QUESTIONS

Exercise – Choose One:

Scenario No. 1 - Large Urban Area Branch

Scenario No. 2 -Small Rural Area Branch

Scenario No. 3 - Your Branch

Exercise :

• 15 Minutes to Develop Implementation Strategy• 15 Minutes Presentation