Strategic Planning
Tuminello Consulting has crafted a unique and proven process for strategic and comprehensive planning for governmental agencies of all types including cities, towns, counties, tribal and other special jurisdictions. Specifically geared to the unique needs of the public sector, the process involves extensive engagement strategies with the elected officials, management team and especially the public at large. Highly interactive interpersonal interviews, broad scale citizen polls, detailed strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analyses, current situation analyses, and planning workshops result in a 10 to 20 year strategic and comprehensive plan. The result is a task and team-oriented roadmap that systematically guides all constituencies toward their desired future vision and goals.
The following task list summarizes the key elements of the strategic planning process:
Document Review
The strategic planning process starts with an understanding of the historical context. A thorough document review of key historical information is conducted. These documents include community history, current ordinances, the charter, any previous or current planning documents including strategic plans, comprehensive plans and various master plans and any other pertinent information.
Community Engagement
In any strategic planning program for communities and other public agencies, citizen or constituent engagement is absolutely essential if the successful, widespread adoption of the plan is to be expected. The utilization of on-line and paper polls as well as roundtable discussions have proven to provide remarkable success in achieving constituent input and adoption. In a recent strategic and comprehensive plan, we were able to garner input from over one quarter of the adult voting population.
Current Situation Analysis
Confidential one-on-one interviews with elected officials, staff and other community leaders selected to participate in the strategic planning workshop are conducted to gather their individual perspectives on needs and priorities as well as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). In the approximate one-hour discussion utilizing a customized template to ensure all respondents answer identical questions, responses are compiled and summarized into a situation analysis table. This table becomes an important consensus building tool during the workshop to develop the vision, goals and Big Bold Steps that will drive the key programs developed for the strategic plan.
Two-day Strategic Planning Workshop
With the current situation analysis complete as well as mandates received from the citizenry or constituents via the implementation of customized engagement strategies, enough background information has been obtained to develop the program, process and agenda for a two-day strategic planning workshop. Normally this workshop is attended by the same individuals who participated in the one-on-one interviews. Several main group and breakout group discussions and exercises are facilitated to develop the vision, goals and Big Bold Steps (strategic objectives). Day two is designed so that participants can work out detailed actions for each bold step. Incorporated into each action plan are the specific projects and tasks, responsible parties, schedule/budget, and milestones to measure progress. The result is an action-oriented dynamic document that can be utilized as a roadmap for implementation and accountability on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Typically, the planning horizon for these plans is 15-20 years. Tuminello Consulting creates and facilitates the entire process which includes all necessary forms and materials necessary to draft the strategic plan during the workshop.
Final Strategic Plan Documentation
Utilizing the draft document produced during the retreat, Tuminello Consulting completes a final draft of the document including all graphics and visuals suitable for publication and public communication. The final strategic plan document lays the foundation and provides the high-level priorities and direction for subsequent planning efforts, including the comprehensive plan as well as more detailed master plans for each major component e.g., parks and recreation master plan or airport master plan.