Strategic Action Plan - International Environmental Technology Centre

Strategic Action Plan Report
1.5 Strategic Planning (SP) in ISWM
Strategic Action Planning 2 is defined as a management tool that helps an organization do a better job; to
focus its energy; to ensure that its members are working towards the same goals and to assess and adjust
the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment 3 . This process is strategic because it
prepares the organization to respond to circumstances related to its dynamic environment. The process is
about planning because it involves setting of targets or goals and developing a framework to achieve these
goals. In other words, it can be explained as a vehicle for journey, from present situation to better future.
Strategic Planning (SP) is about the choice that is made from a number of alternatives, the prioritization
of those choices, and the timing of the action associated with them. Thus, it is a proactive and targetoriented
process-cum-methodology.
An objective of SP is to allocate organizational resources and to establish priorities of actions. SP can thus
be beneficial to the economic efficiency of the organization as well, by guiding a more efficient use of
personnel and a more productive application of available financial resources 4 . Lastly, SP is essential
towards achievement of long-term objective of developmental activities as it encourages a simultaneous
consideration of social, environmental and economic factors.
Figure 1.2 explains the basic steps in SP. It may be observed that SP is a continuous process – not a onetime
activity. The process begins with a situation analysis, i.e. an assessment of the internal as well as
external environment. The present situation is carefully evaluated to find out if the organization is on
track towards its goals. If no goals/objectives have previously been set, new goals / objectives are set and
the SP process is geared towards achieving the targets under each goal / objective.
Follow-up
Monitoring
Preparation
Goals, Objectives and
Action Plan
Strategic
Planning
Process
What is our
Current Situation?
How to get there?
What are our Values?
Where do
we want to be?
Figure 1.2 – The Strategic Planning Process
2 Also referred to as “Strategic Planning”
3 “Strategic Planning” at the Alliance for Non-profit Management Website. Available at:
http://www.allianceonline.org/faqs.html
4 How to Prepare an Economic Development Action Plan for Your Community by The Center for Economic
Development Research, College of Business Administration, University of South Florida. Available at:
cedr.coba.usf.edu/projects/Module1EDActionPlan/Case%20Study%201.pdf
ISWM Plan for Pune 7