Strategic planning Web sites

Information Outlook, Feb, 1998 by Suzi Hayes

The remaining locations mentioned in this article are more about the planning process rather than sample plans. The various search engines used to find information on strategic planning produced hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of potential hits. Many of these were commercial sites selling various types of management consulting services. They turned up because I thought it would be interesting to include references to games or other types of learning tools that would facilitate the process of preparing a strategic plan, and structured the search query in that direction. However, most hits in this category were single pages that amounted to little more than an advertisement with an address and telephone number, so they are not included in this column.

So the sites that are described below are more robust. As you will see, most of the references are directed at nonprofit organizations, rather than at businesses who have a different type of mission than does SEA.

A description of what strategic planning is all about and the basic steps for creating a plan can be found in the "Nonprofit FAQ" (frequently asked questions) sponsored by the Evergreen State Society (http://www.nonprofitinfo.org/npofaq/index.html). This is a good place to check if you don't have access to any of the books reviewed elsewhere in this issue. The replies to these frequently asked questions are in a section called "Nonprofit Board & Management." Another section called "Nonprofit Organizations and the Internet" is also interesting; although not directly related to planning - it lists state nonprofit agencies, National Public Radio broadcasts, and a conference calendar. The sponsoring society for this site is in the state of Washington, but most of the information has universal appeal.

Another site with FAQs that is somewhat more in depth than the one above is the Nonprofit GENIE - Global Electronic Nonprofit Information Express (http://www.supportcenter.org/sf/spgenie.html). The unique FAQ here is one that deals with planning retreats: their benefits and drawbacks. There is also discussion of mission/vision statements and annual operating plans. Some of the other sections of this site from the Support Centers of America mention publications and fundraising tips that might be of interest to chapters and divisions.

The Management Center's Web site (http://www.tmcenter.org) provides connections to resources in nonprofit management. They offer an extensive list of links to other locations in categories that include "nonprofit meta-indexes with multiple links", newsgroups, listservs, and publications. Although this organization is based in northern California and some of the information is geographically specific, most of it is useful wherever you are.

One of several associations for nonprofits that have a Web presence is the National Center for Nonprofit Boards (http://www.ncnb.org) with its focus on leaders, both paid and volunteer. Their publication section lists resources in two areas of interest to our topic: strategic issues (lobbying, visioning, financial policies) and strategic planning (includes books and videos). Their education section has a frequently asked questions list that includes planning topics and also provides a way to e-mail a question that is not covered by the FAQ.

A number of academic institutions cover strategic planning topics. Some of these, however, are quite awkward to use because the search engine link puts you in the middle of an article or book chapter with no way to get to the beginning of the piece or to the parent organization. One source that does offer better access is the Case Western Reserve University Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations (http://www.cwru.edu/msass/mandelcenter) with its "clinic" for nonprofit management and governance. Although it appears to focus on faculty, students and alumni in the Cleveland area, it has some good links to other places with strategic planning information along with its own. Titles from its lecture series were also interesting. Providing real world case study work for the students, which might be a source of inexpensive help, is another goal. No doubt other colleges and universities provide similar services.

Strategis (http://strategis.ic.gc.ca), an intriguing site from the Canadian government, provides another source for strategic planning information and it's available in both English and French. "Strategis" is a partnership between government and industry with a focus on business development, so it is more commercial than the other sites discussed here. There is sufficient content, however, to merit a mention. A quiz offering to help confirm the need for strategic planning, a list of questions on planning challenges, and a skills assessment tool with several subject modules are some of the applicable sections. Because this is a complex site, here are some more detailed addresses to get to those sections:

* http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_indps/service/engdoc/sp/intro.html,