Membership

Assessing the organization’s readiness to engage in strategic planning is the first step in strategic planning. This tool will help the strategic planning committee identify issues that will benefit or may impede the process. 
 

	Never				Always
Our executive committee or board usually focuses on new opportunities and issues instead of waiting for emergencies.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board uses facts rather than opinions in making decisions.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board usually reaches decisions by consensus after some debate.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board is knowledgeable about what other components are doing to achieve change.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board deals with conflict among executive committee or board members in a straight-forward and assertive manner.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board actively fosters a clear understanding of the organization, its future direction and its leadership decision among the members and actively promotes open lines of two-way communication and information sharing between leadership and the members.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board seeks to be fully informed of members’ attitudes and are fully prepared to represent the interests of the organization to others.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board maintains sound fiscal policy and practices and realistically faces the financial ability of the organization to support its program of work.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board shows respect for the intentions and interests of others and for group decisions cooperatively reached.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board is willing to devote the necessary time to fulfilling the responsibilities of an executive committee or board member as outlined in the organization’s written policies and guiding principles or bylaws.	1	2	3	4	5
Our executive committee or board is prepared to let go of leadership roles and fully support (not interfere with) those who follow in future leadership.	1	2	3	4	5

 
If the majority of the statements fall within levels 3-5, this indicates the members of the executive committee or board are fully engaged in the responsibilities of an executive committee or board member and are prepared to move the organization forward.

The following questions can be answered as “yes” or “no”.

Is the organization clear about its primary purpose?	yes/no
Are new strategic approaches needed for implementing the mission?	yes/no
Can existing strategies be implemented in a more effective way?	yes/no
Are organizational goals and outcomes clear?	yes/no
Should any of our major programs be eliminated?	yes/no
Is there a need for new programs and services?	yes/no
Is it necessary to consider a totally new approach to the mission?	yes/no
Is the organization stable?	yes/no
Does a strategic plan already exist?	yes/no
Have key strategies been determined (either in an existing strategic plan or otherwise)?	yes/no
Is there time to plan?	yes/no
Is funding available?	yes/no
Are board and staff committed to planning?	yes/no

 If the majority of the questions are evaluated in the levels 1-2 or if the majority of questions are answered as “no”, it is recommended that the responsibilities of the board member be reviewed prior to initiating a strategic planning process. 
 
An outside facilitator may be advantageous to assist in the process and provide an objective view.