Kelly Vana's Nursing Leadership and Management

Various strategic planning approaches or models exist. Because they are both based on the scientific method, strategic planning steps are similar to the steps in the nursing process. In strategic planning, the organization analyzes the environment, reviews the literature, formulates goals, develops strategies and action plans, implements the plan, and evaluates the plan. Table 4.5lists more detailed steps in the strategic planning process.

Table 4.5 Steps in the Strategic Planning Process

Source: Patti Ludwig‐Beymer.

An environmental assessmentrequires a broad view of the organization's current environment. Both the external and the internal environment are carefully appraised. The external environmental assessment is broad based and attempts to view trends and future issues and needs that could impact the organization. The internal assessment seeks to inventory the organization's assets and liabilities.

A SWOT analysisis frequently used to conduct environmental assessments. SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A SWOT analysis identifies strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment and opportunities and threats in the external environment. The SWOT analysis is useful both for initial brainstorming and for a more formal planning document. Table 4.6provides a hypothetical SWOT analysis focused on creating an HRO in a community hospital.

Table 4.6 SWOT Analysis for a Hypothetical Hospital

Source: Patti Ludwig‐Beymer.

Stakeholder assessmentis an important part of an environmental assessment. A stakeholder is any person, group, or organization that has a vested interest in the program or project under review. A stakeholder assessment is a systematic consideration of all potential stakeholders to ensure that the needs of each of these stakeholders are incorporated in the planning phase. For an organization or program to be successful, the involvement of those who will be affected is essential. This is true whether the stakeholders are in the community or are unit staff who will be affected by a proposed strategic plan. When stakeholders are not involved in the project planning, they do not gain a sense of ownership and may not enthusiastically accept a program or strategic goal.

Other Methods of Assessment may be used to support involvement in the strategic planning process. Thoughtful planning is required to determine the method and when to use the method.

Frequently, surveys or questionnaires are used when there are many stakeholders. For example, staff might be polled to see whether they would attend continuing education on safety and high reliability and which days and times would be most desirable.

Focus groupsare small group meetings composed of individuals selected because of a common characteristic. Members are invited to meet in a group and respond to questions about a topic in which they are expected to have an interest or expertise. For example, a group of patients who recently had experiences with childbirth might be asked to come together to discuss their obstetric experiences at the institution in the hope that the discussion will lead to insights or information that could be used for enhancing safety. Focus groups are usually more time consuming and expensive to conduct than questionnaires or surveys. They work best when the topic is broad and qualitative input is being sought by the organization.

Think about a health care organization with which you are familiar.

What is the mission of that organization?

Is it clearly communicated to the stakeholders?

What activities of the organization are reflective of its mission?

A review of the literatureshould be completed early in the strategic planning process. This allows the project team to identify similar organizations or programs, their structures and processes, successes, and potential problems and challenges. It helps to make the plan evidence‐based. The literature review is an ongoing process that includes tentatively identifying programs, searching the literature for successes and issues, and then refining the program ideas. Identifying best practices or evidence‐based innovations that have been adopted with success by other organizations can facilitate strategic planning. Nurse leaders need to carefully examine the existing evidence and practices prior to beginning planning.

Determining the congruence of the project or programwith the organizational mission is another step in the strategic planning process. Early in the planning process, the project or program must be considered within the context of the organizational mission to ensure that the project or program is congruent with organization's main mission. Typically, the overall mission and vision of the organization is reviewed as part of strategic planning. At times, the mission of the organization needs to be modified. For example, to become an HRO, the central theme of safety needs to be a part of the organization's mission.

Next, the Strategic Planning team next identifies goals and objectives.

Then the Strategiv Planning team designs strategies or programsto achieve their goals and objectives. After the goals, objectives, and strategies have been identified, they are prioritized according to strategic importance, resources required, and time and effort involved.