- Conduct a SWOT analysis. This analysis focuses on assessing the present state or condition of the organization and determining where the organization would like to be. The difference between the two represents the gap, or the difference between where the organization is currently and where the organization would like to be. This gap could provide direction for the major focus of the strategic plan.
- Describe plans for conducting an environmental scan. The environmental scan is a process in which stakeholders gather and interpret relevant data on an agency, organization, or community to identify external opportunities and threats.
- Identify and describe internal conditions that might impact the implementation of the strategic plan.
- Address how you would minimize the impact of those conditions.
- Identify and describe external conditions or competitors that might impact the implementation of the strategic plan.
- Address how you would minimize the impact of those conditions.
- Consider how you might plan to work with competitors to meet the needs of your targeted agency, organization, or community.
- Identify and describe at least three strengths of the agency, organization, or community.
- State why each item on the list is a strength.
- State how you plan to utilize each strength to positively the impact the development or implementation of the strategic plan.
- Identify and describe at least three weaknesses of the agency, organization, or community.
- State what causes each item on the list to be a weakness.
- State how you plan to minimize the impact of the weakness.
- Identify and describe at least three threats to the agency, organization, or community.
- State what causes each item on the list to be a threat.
- State how you plan to minimize the impact of the threat.
- Identify and describe at least three opportunities for improvement for the agency, organization, or community.
- State what causes each item on the list to be an opportunity for improvement.
- State how you plan to incorporate the opportunity in the implementation of the strategic plan.
