Strategic planning can seem complicated, and where you start may differ depending on the particular situation of your organisation.
How should your organisation navigate and use the IFEX Strategic Planning Toolkit? Your starting point will depend on many factors, including whether you have an existing strategic plan and the competitive, national and regional situations within which your organisation operates.
Here are some common situations and suggested starting points:
“I have never been involved with strategic planning before”
Start with:
• Chapter Two: What Are the Components of a Strategic Plan?
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
• Chapter Ten: Working With a Consultant
“My organisation has never had a strategic plan”
Start with:
• Chapter Two: What Are the Components of a Strategic Plan?
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
• Chapter Ten: Working With a Consultant
“We are updating an existing strategic plan”
Start with:
• Chapter Two: What Are the Components of a Strategic Plan?
• Chapter Eight: How Do We Keep Our Strategy and Strategic Plan Current?
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
“We have a strategic plan but our situation has changed dramatically since it was completed”
Start with:
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
• Chapter Eight: How Do We Keep Our Strategy and Strategic Plan Current?
“We are facing a funding crisis”
Start with:
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
“We have a new competitor”
Start with:
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
“An existing competitor is taking on activities which challenge our position with funders, members and/or the public”
Start with:
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
“Our mission and vision are not clearly articulated”
Start with:
• Chapter Three: What Are Mission, Vision, Values and Theory of Change?
• Chapter Two: What are the Components of a Strategic Plan?
“We need to update our mission and vision because of changes in our environment or organisation”
Start with:
• Chapter Six: What is an Environmental Scan?
• Chapter Seven: What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
• Chapter Three: What Are Vision, Mission, Values and Theory of Change?
Strategic Planning Toolkit
Build your strategic plan and improve your organisation’s effectiveness with these strategic planning tools and fact sheets. Not sure where to start? Check out the Starting Points page for advice tailored to your situation.
Chapters
- Starting Points
- What Are the Components of a Strategic Plan?
- What Are Vision, Mission, Values and Theory of Change?
- What are SMART Goals, Objectives and Targets?
- What is an Annual Plan or Workplan?
- What is an Environmental Scan?
- What is Your Organisation’s Competitive Advantage?
- How Do We Keep Our Strategy and Strategic Plan Current?
- How Do We Measure Change?
- Working With a Consultant
- IFEX Strategic Planning Tools
Organisational Strength Map
Use this tool to identify your organisation’s strengths and explore areas for growth and development.
Communications Strategy Toolkit
Effective communications planning will enable you to raise your organisation’s voice on issues that matter.
Financial Sustainability Plan
Ensure that your organisation survives and thrives by strengthening its fiscal framework.
Social Media Strategy
This step-by-step tool will enable you to build an effective social media strategy and engage your online audiences.
Website Optimisation Plan
This 10-step plan will help you improve your website’s impact and usability.