Environmental Scanning at the Local Level: Strategy for Effective Planning

1. Environmental Scanning At the Local Level

2. Intro to Scanning • First and foremost… this is not a new thing! • Evaluating (scanning) is a critical step in the planning cycle • The WB does this as part of our biennial planning cycle • If we don’t do it first, we will be forced to later as crises arise

3. Plan Evaluate Prioritize Monitor Delegate

4. Intro to Scanning • A process for identifying & assessing factors that are shaping our environment • Helps understand how changing world can impact committee’s ability to realize its vision • Data provides insight to challenges/opportunities a committee will face, and resulting strategies

5. Basic Scanning Process • Identify trends & issues in the internal & external environments • ID sources of information used for these trends and issues to confirm their validity. • Consider implications of trends for ASC/RSC actions, or “What might we do?” • In response to the external environment • In considering our internal environment • Use this as a part of the foundation for planning the next cycle (next year)

6. A Scanning Exercise • Trend/Issue: Decrease in group contributions to the ASC • Internal or External: ??? • Supporting data: 12 months of treasurer’s reports confirm the downward trend • Implications for committee actions; what might we do?

7. Group Exercise Trend/Issue Your Task • Lack of Trusted Servants • Smoking law changes • Groups report influx of Court Card attendees • Internal or External issue? • What might be supporting data • What actions might be considered? • Use Post-its

8. Final Thoughts • Again… this is not a new thing! • A critical step in the planning cycle • If we don’t do it, we will be forced to do it as crises arise • Messy at first… give yourself a break! • More resources soon

9. Environmental Scanning At the Local Level