Discussion

Discussion 2
The Strategic Planning Process
The strategic planning process is essential for any nonprofit or government organization as it helps organizations achieve their missions

and goals. This process includes various elements such as stakeholders, sustainable outcomes, resources, and community connections, with

each element fulfilling a particular role in the planning process. For this Discussion, you examine strategic planning and consider the

most important element of the process.
Post by Day 3 an explanation of the most important element of the strategic planning process (e.g., stakeholders, sustainable outcomes,

resources, community connections). Include how this element of planning helps public and nonprofit organizations achieve optimal results.

Then, explain how this element of planning relates to your own professional experiences.
Readings
Readings
• Course Text: Bryson, J. M. (2011). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to strengthening and

sustaining organizational achievement (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
o Chapter 2, “The Strategy Change Cycle: An Effective Strategic Planning Approach for Public and Nonprofit Organizations” (pp. 41–

80)
o Chapter 3, “Initiating and Agreeing on a Strategic Planning Process” (pp. 83–116)
o Chapter 4, “Clarifying Organizational Mandates and Mission” (pp. 117–149)
Discussion 3
SWOT Analysis
Strategic change is a process that involves analyzing an organization’s vision, mission, goals, and strategic plans. Organizational

leaders can perform this analysis using SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), which involves examining an organization’s

internal and external environments. By analyzing an organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges, leaders are

better equipped to identify and address issues and help the organization in achieving its short-term goals. In this Discussion, you select

a nonprofit or government organization in which you work or that you are familiar with and conduct a simple, brief SWOT analysis.
Post by Day 3 a description of the organization you are using for the SWOT analysis. Then, conduct a SWOT analysis and summarize the

strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that your organization faces now and over the next 5 years.

Readings
Readings
• Course Text: Bryson, J. M. (2011). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations: A guide to strengthening and

sustaining organizational achievement (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
o Chapter 5, “Assessing the Environment to Identify Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges” (pp. 150–184)
o Chapter 6, “Identifying Strategic Issues Facing the Organization” (pp. 185–218)
o Chapter 11, “Leadership Roles in Making Strategic Planning Work” (pp. 355–382)

Discussion 6
Writing Scenarios
In order to build a scenario, you need to identify the driving forces as well as the trends that may have an impact on your organization

and the environment in which it operates in the long term. In looking at trends, you should ask yourself which are the most important and

likely to have the most impact, as well as which are the most predictable and least predictable in the future time frame you are

considering.
For this Discussion, review the data collected from previous weeks and continue to do research using the Internet, databases, government

reports, newspaper articles, and other sources to answer one of the following groups of questions that will help build your scenarios with

regard to your organization.
Post by Day 3 your answer to one of the following groups of questions:
• Growth/socioeconomic scenarios: What might the future look like given different population or growth projections in 20 years?

Explain which trends are likely to have the most impact on your organization and region. Explain which trends are likely to have

predictable outcomes and which may have unpredictable ones.
• Environmental scenarios: What might the future look like given different environmental trends and needs in 20 years? Explain which

trends are likely to have the most impact on your organization and region. Explain which trends are likely to have predictable outcomes

and which may have unpredictable ones.
• Economic scenarios: What might the future look like given different trends in various sectors of the economy such as energy,

manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture in 20 years? Explain which trends are likely to have the most impact on your organization

and region. Explain which trends are likely to have predictable outcomes and which may have unpredictable ones.
Identify and explain at least three of the data resources you used to answer the question, and identify where you might look for

additional information.
Readings
• Watson, R., & Freeman, O. (2012). Futurevision: Scenarios for the world in 2040. Victoria, Australia: Scribe.
o Chapter 11, “Building Scenario Worlds: The Third Stage” (pp. 283–293)
Ogilvy, J. (2011). Facing the fold: Essays on scenario planning [ebrary version]. Axminster, England: Triarchy Press.
Retrieved from the Walden University Library databases.
o Chapter 1, “Plotting Your Scenarios” (pp. 13–34)
o Chapter 8, “Mapping Scenario Planning in the Public and Private Sectors: Lessons From Regional Projects” (pp. 195–204)
Wade, P. A., & Wade, W. (2015). Scenario planning: A field guide to the future [ebrary version]. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Retrieved from the Walden University Library databases.
o Chapter 2, “How-To” (pp. 26–65)
Optional Resources
• Costanza, R., Kubiszewski, I., Cork, S., Atkins, P. W. B., Bean, A., Diamond, A., . . . Patrick, A. (2015). Scenarios for

Australia in 2050: A synthesis and proposed survey. Journal of Futures Studies, 19(3), 49–76. Retrieved from

http://www.jfs.tku.edu.tw/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/19-3-A4-Costanza-small.pdf
• National Intelligence Council. (2012). Global trends 2030: Alternative worlds. Retrieved

fromhttp://www.dni.gov/files/documents/GlobalTrends_2030.pdf
• Wright, D. L., Buys, L., Vine, D., Xia, B., Skitmore, M., Drogemuller, R., . . . Li, M. (2014). EUTOPIA 75+: Exploratory futures

scenarios for baby boomers’ preferred living spaces. Journal of Futures Studies, 19(2), 41–60. Retrieved from

http://www.jfs.tku.edu.tw/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/19-2-Article3-Buys.pdf
• Zmud, J., Ecola, l., Phleps, P., &Feige, I. The future of mobility: Scenarios for the United States in 2030. Retrieved from

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR246