The indicator for strategic plan is defined as whether a board of health reports having a strategic plan in place that covers the current period (2008).

A strategic plan is an organizational document that generally covers a period of three to five years, presents the organization’s mission and vision, describes the relationship of programs to community needs and establishes priorities for action within a specific timeframe and with specific resources.

The existence of a strategic plan is an indicator of good governance because it signals a purposeful approach to planning and priority setting for the organization. Such plans are also a key element in capacity building because they provide an opportunity for an organization to consider its strengths and weaknesses, and to make plans to address these.

Strategic plans are commonly used among boards of health, with 24 of the 36 boards of health reporting having a strategic plan current as of 2008. Three boards of health had strategic plans that expired prior to 2008, two boards of health have a strategic plan that began in 2009, and seven reported that they do not have a strategic plan in place.

Definition:

Indicates whether a board of health reports having a strategic plan in place that covers the current period (2008).

Data Source(s):

Survey of boards of health, 2008

Formula:

Yes, with years of strategic plan; no

Notes:

• Having a strategic plan will improve organizational performance only where it is well implemented and amended over time in response to emerging situations
• Assesses only the existence of a strategic plan without assessment of the scope of the plan
• Lack of consistency in the content and rigor of strategic planning makes compilation of results difficult to interpret
• Does not provide information on how the strategic plan is used to influence operations and achieve strategic goals