The term strategic planning describes a process through which people first agree on a desired future and then organize their resources and efforts toward meeting those long-term goals. A strategic plan defines what you want to accomplish for your organization or community and provides a road map for moving forward and staying on track. The authors, as trainers and facilitators, have helped communities of all sizes and varying characteristics work through strategic planning processes. This book is their way of offering those potential benefits to others. A free PDF download of the table of contents is available (https://www.sog.unc.edu/publications/books/strategic-planning-elected-officials-setting-priorities-2017!/details). See the Local Government Board Builders Series webpage for other books in the series and related School of Government publications (https://www.sog.unc.edu/resource-series/local-government-board-builders-series-0).

Strategic Planning for Local Government, second edition, outlines the strategic planning process in local government and helps local government leaders anticipate and shape the future of their communities. It covers practical ways of obtaining information, analyzing that information, and developing a vision for the community that can be translated into programs and line items in a budget. This e-book offers many excerpts from local government plans and working documents that serve as examples you can build upon. These models can be customized for your local government. Videos highlight the role professional local government managers play in building communities we're proud to call home.

You'd think strategic planning would be obvious. It has long been a common practice in the corporate world. It has, however, only recently been applied to the public sector. Local governments find such planning increasingly useful as they strive to overcome the constraints imposed by traditional, short-term government planning practices.These 24 articles examine sound (proven) public sector strategic planning theories. They demonstrate the different kinds of planning used in 16 successful governments, and provide assessments of the future of this important tool.

This book is about change, challenge and opportunity. It is about planning for an uncertain future while meeting current social, economic, and environmental demands. In this first book in the Prepared For Challenge Public Leadership Series, acclaimed public sector futurist John Luthy raises profound questions about predictability, probability, and the inevitability of events that will reshape America. More importantly, he presents a proven, simple strategic thinking and planning process that was developed specifically for public agencies to promote efficiency, productivity and measured performance. This book is a 'must read' for every elected official, public administrator and community leader who is committed to dynamic, creative and productive government.

The authority on developing strategies and a strategic plan for any public and nonprofit organization Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations is the comprehensive, practical guide to building and sustaining a more effective organization, delivering a clear framework for designing and implementing a better strategic planning and management process. The field's leading authorities share insights, advice, helpful tools, and specific techniques, alongside a widely used and well-regarded approach to real-world planning. This revised and updated Sixth Edition contains new literature cited, new cases, more information on international public and nonprofit concerns, and a more extensive discussion of design and agile methods of strategy development and implementation. In this book, readers will learn how to: Establish an effective approach to the strategic planning process that helps clarify mission and mandates, identify issues, establish a vision, develop strategies, and implement plans Manage the process with continual learning and linking unique assets and abilities to better accomplish the central mission Create significant and enduring public value and navigate political, economic, societal, technological, environmental and legal developments, both locally and internationally Innovation and creativity produce great ideas, but these ideas must be collected and organized into an actionable plan bolstered by a coalition of support to make your organization great. Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations provides everything public and nonprofit leaders need to help bring all of your vision, talent, and assets together into a workable organizational strategy.