Hi Andrew: Lots to reply to. I think your process design can work.
In doing a two day OS specifically to create a strategic plan for a new organization, we: began by doing environmental scan, etc., and publishing that information for all published a "template" for the ultimate strategic plan before we started making it (yes using all the conventional categories) so everyone knew where we were headed used three big "buckets" to broadly converge information generated at the retreat 1) guiding ideas (mission, values, vision, etc.) 2) program goals 3) operational supports for program goals gave groups "templates" (flipcharts requesting certain information) to help focus the groups' output into usable chunks of planning information for the ultimate plan. A small, (very) dedicated staff group compiled all this information into a strategic plan. They checked their work with representative stakeholders. They created a plan for the organization for the first time. Their critique of the process fit your worries: the folks who gave the input were somewhat passive waiting for the small group to finish the plan, and despite diligent work, it took them from November to May to finish the thing. Of course, when they finished, they had a strategic plan, an operational plan linked to it, and a budget. Ultimately I don't see a lot of alternatives. The learning curve for this group, doing this for the first time, was steep. Charging folks up to act on their own, right out of the gate, gets faster action, but without the blessing of the concerted plan. Incidentally, the client invited me back to their second retreat (next week) also in Open Space, which builds on the goals and strategies of the first. My advice: use Open Space to generate lots of input fast. Be very clear about your planning structure and givens in advance. Coach folks to assemble the plan as fast as they can after the events. Plan follow up Open Spaces to give folks a chance to build on the plan when it's published. Carry on! Regards, Jay Jay W. Vogt Peoplesworth 166 Hubbard Street Concord, MA 01742-2448 USA (978) 371-3134 - Voice (978) 287-5431 - Fax [email protected] - Email
