The Value of Strategic Planning

1. The Value of Strategic Planning John Dolan OBE Focus, Funding and Futures: Libraries Adapting to Change Library Association of Ireland / CILIP Ireland 11 April 2013

2. About Strategy

3. What is strategy? A cynical take? • Military associations • Greek – “Art of leader; office of general command” Wikipedia • Plan to achieve (more) goals • Insufficient resources • Advantage over adversaries through exploitation of emergent possibilities rather than committing to any fixed plan at the outset”

4. What is strategy? For businesses • “a pattern in a stream of decisions” Henry Mintzberg • “Desirable ends with available means” Max Mckeown • “determination of basic long term goals and objectives of an enterprise, [sic] and the adoption of courses of action and the allocation of resources necessary for carrying out these goals” Chandler 1962 • from Wikipedia

5. What was… … my strategy in going to Wikipedia? • To get as much and do as little as possible • (output) • To amuse • (outcome) • To promote Wikipedia • (objective)

6. What is strategy? Military • “the utilization during both peace and war, of all of the nation’s forces, through large scale, long-range planning and development to ensure security and victory” (Random House Dictionary)

7. What is strategy? Military • “the utilization during both peace and war, of all of the nation’s forces, through large scale, long-range planning and development to ensure security and victory” (Random House Dictionary [quoted in Wikipedia])

8. Let’s take a closer look at that… • Large scale • Aspiration and Circumstances • Long range • Forward-looking • Realistic • Ambitious • Planning • Action oriented. Change making • Development • Change and innovation • Security • Sustainability • Victory • For subject and for you

9. About Libraries

10. Them Low awareness Haven’t got time Opening hours Valued v funding Narrow stereotype Nostalgia support New Technology Us Talk to each other Modest self-esteem Self critical Victim culture Slow to change Hide our light New Technology Attitudes?

11. But … look what libraries bring to the table • Collaborative culture • Is that so? Sometimes… • Enormous market • Millions of (registered) users • Massive assets • structural, physical, virtual, human • Committed Trained Workforce • Thousands of people. Tons of experience. Close to communities • Library Information and Knowledge • the most 21st century profession

12. The Library Idea … is everywhere! Early years School Academic … Further & Higher Education Research and innovation Business, commerce Banking, Finance, Law Entrepreneurs and Industry Health, Wellbeing, Care Government and Public Administration Special and Third Sector Public

13. and … has been everywhere

19. About Strategic Plans

20. Our strategic priorities for 2012-2015 • • Collaboration and shared services • • Performance and quality • Academic Content and Communication • • User experience and success SCONUL

21. Provost’s Foreword iii • Values iv • Vision and Mission v • Executive Summary vii • Trinity’s Strategy for the Future • Education • Knowledge Generation and Transfer • Student Experience • Engagement with Society • Enabling the Strategy • People • Place • Information and the Library • Implementing the Strategy • Acknowledgements Trinity College Dublin

23. Information and the Library • As a learning organisation, we fully support the sharing of information for the benefit of the entire community …….. • publish an information strategy • Establish a virtual learning environment (VLE) and a virtual research environment (VRE) • Transform campus experience with mobile web • integrated communications technology Platform • Develop the Library and College archives

24. Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association

25. Our mission is to:* independently represent, promote and support owner managers of small & medium enterprises.* be vigilant, decisive, and direct in promoting and defending the interests of all small and medium businesses.* help members better manage and grow their business through the provision of excellent information and services.* reduce members’ costs through the co-ordinated strength of the sector.

26. Our mission is to:* independently represent, promote and support owner managers of small & medium enterprises.* be vigilant, decisive, and direct in promoting and defending the interests of all small and medium businesses.* help members better manage and grow their business through the provision of excellent information and services.* reduce members’ costs through the co-ordinated strength of the sector. • 4 part mission … • They do what it says on the lid • That’s small businesses

27. About strategic planning

28. External Political Economic Social Technological Legal Environment Education Internal SWOT Research / Evidence of past achievement Unique qualities (USPs) Consultation; engagement Partnership potential Assets Resources Elements of strategic planning Vision. Aims. Objectives. Desired outcomes

29. Intrinsic Historic legacy Books only Valued Victorian; associated with archives, museums Collections Nostalgia value Not enough on its own New technology Instrumental Literacy Learning Information Knowledge Children/ Young People Community Diversity Recessionist New technology Intrinsic v Instrumental

30. 360° Strategy Leadership Partnership Collaboration Skills Passion More ideas & resources Huge Market Competition Divided Failure to change No/Low Impact Uncertain market Futures Opportunities Threats Dated image Invisible Inconsistent Limited evidence Baggage – Legacy National network History Nostalgia

31. About our Skills

32. Professional Knowledge and Skills Base • Ethics and Values • at the centre • Key knowledge and skills • make our profession unique • Professional expertise and strategic skills • in the wider library, information and knowledge sector context • wider organisation and environmental context • maintain current awareness and understanding of the wider profession • for knowledge of the world outside their own workplace

34. Professional expertise: Make more of our professional assets, our skills

35. Skills of Strategy – 1. The wider perspective

36. Skills of Strategy – 2. Generic. Powerful

37. PKSB: Generic skills - Skills of strategy • Wider Organisation and Environmental context • Wider Library Information and Knowledge Sector context • Leadership and Advocacy • Strategy, Planning and Management • Customer Focus, Service Design and Marketing • IT and Communication

38. 9. Leadership and Advocacy Provide active leadership by inspiring and managing themselves and teams, both inside and outside the organisation and by promoting the positive value of library, information and knowledge services across the organisation and society. Includes leading and inspiring teams, influencing key stakeholders and understanding external frameworks

39. 9. Leadership and Advocacy Provideactive leadership by inspiring and managing themselves and teams, both inside and outside the organisation and by promoting the positive value of library, information and knowledge services across the organisation and society. Includes leading and inspiring teams, influencing key stakeholders and understanding external frameworks

40. 10. Strategy, Planning and Management Setting long-term goals and objectives, and managing their planning and delivery within financial and legal constraints, while ensuring that strategies and priorities are in line with and support business objectives. Includes knowledge of business, operational and financial planning and management.

41. 10. Strategy, Planning and Management Setting long-term goals and objectives, and managing their planning and delivery within financial and legal constraints, while ensuring that strategies and priorities are in line with and support business objectives. Includes knowledge of business, operational and financial planning and management.

42. 11. Customer focus, Service Design and Marketing Understanding user needs, shaping library, information and knowledge services to meet those needs and using appropriate methods to inform customers of accessibility, value and benefit of the resources and services. Includes knowing the customer, identifying and communicating with stakeholders, designing and promoting services and evaluating the outcomes.

43. 11. Customerfocus, Service Design and Marketing Understanding user needs, shaping library, information and knowledge services to meet those needs and using appropriate methods to inform customers of accessibility, value and benefit of the resources and services. Includes knowing the customer, identifying and communicating with stakeholders, designing and promoting services and evaluating the outcomes.

44. 12. IT and Communication Using a range of electronic information resources and systems, including databases, catalogues, Web resources and software. Includes new internet applications and social media tools and providing user-friendly electronic resources and tools. Communication skills include oral, writing and presentation skills, networking and relationship building and working effectively with individuals and groups.

45. 12. IT and Communication Using a range of electronic information resources and systems, including databases, catalogues, Web resources and software. Includes new internet applications and social media tools and providing user-friendly electronic resources and tools. Communication skills include oral, writing and presentation skills, networking and relationship building and working effectively with individuals and groups.

47. What more do you need?

48. Make your own tomorrow!

49. or… … make tomorrow your own! Thank you John