Implementing Best Practices in Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement

1. Implementing Best Practices in Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement February 10, 2012 2012 MPRA State Conference

2. Session Objectives • Participants will be able to define best practices, key performance indicators and explain their purpose and implementation in an agency. • Participants will be able to implement best practices throughout the agency using various methods and approaches that help the agency, and avoid creating harm. • Participants will utilize information on KPIs to further their understanding and discuss internal agency KPIs that are related to best practices for strategic planning and continuous improvement.

3. Best Practices • A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means. • Used as a benchmark, a best practice can evolve as improvements are discovered. • Utilizing best practices often requires good research and a method to measure agency performance as in key performance indicators.

4. Best Practice Concepts • Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries • “Good" practices or "smart" practices offer insight into solutions that may or may not work for your situation • “Contextual practice," in which the notion of what is "best" will vary with the context

5. Types of Best Practices

6. Objective Difficult Precise Subjective The Arena of Best Practice-KPI KPIs Metrics Measures Goals & Objectives Critical Success Factors KPIs Metrics Measures Measureable Business Technology Immeasureable

7. Best Practices in Strategic Planning • Effectiveness of Target Setting • Comprehensiveness of Target Setting • Formality of External Analysis • Innovation of Benchmarking • Comprehensiveness of Organizational Analysis • Formality of Internal Analysis • Execution of Action Plans • Sophistication of Action Plans • Strategic Planning Coordination • Strategic Planning Support

8. Best Practices in Continuous Improvement • Organizational Learning • Capacity Dynamic • CI Coordination • CI Execution • CI Support

9. A Logic Model Approach • Utilizing best practices often requires good research and a method to measure agency performance as in key performance indicators. • Identify and prioritize KPIs using logic models. • Logic models: graphic/tabular representation of program inputs, outputs, and outcomes.

10. A Logic Model Approach

11. A Logic Model Approach

12. Developing Your Agencies Own Best Practices and KPIs Workshop • Defining what is important • Defining what is measurable • Defining a process for determining best practices and KPIs • Finding an administrative home for best practices and KPIs • Planning for implementation • Small groups report out

13. Conclusion Steve Wolter, CPRPJeff Bransford, CPRP Executive Director Associate Director sawolter@indiana.edu jbransfo@indiana.edu Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands Indiana University www.eppley.org 812.855.3095