Literacy Basics - Community Literacy of Ontario

Getting Started

Before you begin

Getting a bird's eye view of the strategic planning process will give you a general overview of what's involved and answer the questions: “What will we do first?” and “What will we do next?” The other key questions, “Why would we do this?” and “How do we do this?” are fully explored in later sections accompanied by step-by-step directions.

As you get started in strategic planning, here are some of the initial decisions you will need to make:

1. What is our overall purpose in engaging in strategic planning?
   
   Everyone seems interested in strategic planning these days, but it is not an undertaking you want to consider without having a clear purpose in mind. In order to help generate a clear purpose, have a group of stakeholders (staff, learners, board members, volunteers and others) in your agency brainstorm why you should undertake strategic planning.
   
   To get you started, here is a list of a few good reasons that some literacy practitioners have already given for initiating a strategic planning process with their agency:
   
   
   • I want to establish a clear path to follow that will carry us through a time of transition as we become more involved with Employment Ontario.
   • Our agency needs to meet a new demand that has occurred because of a significant shift in our local labour market.
   • We are aware of an important opportunity opening up in our community and we want to be well-placed to take advantage of it.
   • We need to engage in succession planning to leave the agency in a position of strength with a clear vision, sense of purpose and action plan that can carry new staff through a time of transition.
   • Our agency is currently in a very healthy position; we want to take advantage of our strengths and take the agency to the next level.
   • We need to “shore up” and improve our agency's operations because we are aware of some challenges our agency faces. This means we need to refocus our energies and use our resources to the best possible advantage.
   • We need new energy. I sense the agency is in danger of becoming too comfortable and complacent in its work and services. I want to see our agency wake up and step forward into new challenges and, in the process, become revitalized.

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