Klass Strategies - August 15, 2007: One Day Wonder?

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August 15, 2007: One Day Wonder?

The increasing trend of small (hopefully NOT medium and large) nonprofit boards requesting professional assistance with half day strategic planning retreats is disturbing.

OK, it is understandable that with such busy lives that many people have a board of trustees can only devote 3 hours each year to talking about how things are going and set priorities for the next year. Of course, one wonders what they are doing in board meetings in between these special extended meetings. However, a well-facilitated high quality strategic thinking session should NOT be equated to a complete strategic planning process.

With so much change in our society, so many non and for-profit competitors for funding and niching, so many potential partners, so many challenges and opportunities to consider, it is rising to the level of unethical behavior for boards to devote so little time to managing their niche. Why unethical? Because at least SOME members of these boards MUST know better! Strategic planning/management can take a variety of forms but some of the elements required for consideration of truly fundamental issues impacting success simply cannot be processed in 180 minutes or even 360 minutes.

Yes, with substantial preparation, research, pre-planning, preliminary discussions, etc., there can be a culminating decision making session effectively held in minutes, not in days. However, by ignoring adequate research, engagement with stakeholders, development and analysis of alternatives, adequate implementation planning with performance indicators and budgetary implications, well, and boards are shortchanging the community they serve and undermining their prospects for sustainability. And so, I wonder about just how wonderful this one day wondering can be and can an ethical facilitation professional participate in good conscience in these events?

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