Strategic Planning and Organizational Mandates - Assignment Example

Strategic Planning Table of Contents The Organization 3 Organizational Mandates 3 Mission and Values 3 Stakeholder Analysis 4 Assess the External and Internal Environments 4 Strategic Issues 6 Strategies to Address the Issues 7 Adopting the Strategic Plan 8 Organizational Future Vision 9 Implementation Process 9 Monitoring and Re-evaluation 10 Reflections on the Strategic Planning Process 10 References 11 Strategic Planning 1. The Organization Americares Association  Americares is a not-for-profit organization, which was founded in 1982, and it specializes in offering support and relief programs to victims of various disasters in different parts of the world. In fact, the organization responds immediately to any form of disaster, whereby they offer medical services and support during a crisis (AmeriCares, 2013). Moreover, this organization provides prolonged support to victims of disasters in various parts of the world without discrimination against race, religious or political affiliations. In addition, they have objective of health restoration for victims of a disaster and saving people’s lives through donations of medical supplies and humanitarian support. 2. Organizational Mandates AmeriCare is an organization with the mandate of offing relief programs and health in situations of a disaster by delivering medication and medical supplies to these victims. The organization has the mandate of providing people with humanitarian assistance in different countries around the world. Moreover, the organization has been providing aid worth ten billion to more than one hundred and forty countries (Americares, 2011). Moreover, AmeriCares also provides medical support by establishing free clinics, non-for profit pharmacies and numerous hospitals in different parts of the world to assist poor. 3. Mission and Values Americare is an organization with a mission of offering relief and charitable assistance, thereby responding to emergencies caused by disasters. Moreover, they have upheld values towards their assistance programs, which are offered to victims of a disaster with emergency medical needs. Socratic questions to evaluate the mission's clarity How would the organization focus on changing their strategies? Why would they want this change? What are results of these changes after one year if the strategies are fully implemented? What are the consequences associated with failure of these strategies? How does planning assist in achievement of organizational objectives? How does change influence other aspects of the organization? 4. Stakeholder Analysis Stakeholders in Americare organization include private sector donors, the government and other associates who facilitate operations of the organization. In fact, these parties assist the organization to execute their mandate of ensuring that people are living longer and healthier. Moreover, this requires supply of critical medicine and health care services to people from different parts of the world. Other stakeholders include leading pharmaceutical companies and medical manufactures who offer medical supplied to the organization. The organization has managed to acquire partnership with over 2000 hospitals, clinics and community health programs in numerous parts of the world. There are other stakeholders, who include international and local nongovernmental organizations and ministries. 5. Assess the External and Internal Environments Strengths Americare has gathered products donations from private sector, and they determine the urgency of various needs to intervene through their assistance. Moreover, they have the ability of convincing their stakeholders to offer financial support, which they send to affected areas through airlift and ocean cargo. Americare has acquired health care professionals, who are deployed in impecunious regions with people suffering from different disasters. On the other hand, the organization has developed a model that is tested and proofed to be cost effective. In fact, it is propelled by the experience that has been gathered by the organization for the year they have been operating (AmeriCares, 2013). Weakness Americare has a weakness associated with their inability to gain access to areas with people suffering from various disasters due to a barrier caused by lack of information or high level of insecurity (AmeriCares, 2013). Therefore, organizations lack ability to access these regions because of lack of information, which can be considered a weakness. Opportunities Americare has opportunities created by their long-standing commitment of their fiscal responsibility, which has been ranked high by Charity Navigatior for their achievements (AmeriCares, 2013). On the other hand, they have acquired a platform facilitating recognition from different parties who ends up becoming stakeholders of the organization. Threats Threats to Americare are caused by challenges faced especially in regions where there is low accessibility of medicines and medical supplies through conventional channels. In this case, the organization incurs extra expenses in order to acquire medical supplies and this may affect other critical operations (AmeriCares, 2013). On the other hand, this organization undergoes tribulations in regions with a high influence of political conflicts. In this case, this causes exposure of their personnel to high level of insecurity in these regions of the world. Influence of the Analysis to Strategic Planning Process The SWOT analysis has focused on organizations strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats, which facilitates to evaluate and determine its performance (Berryman, 2009). In this case, ideas established through this analysis are applicable during the process of making informed decision (Management Study Guide, 2012). Moreover, the analysis enables identification of resources, which can be deployed during implementation of strategies in order to achieving the organizational objectives (Magicman, 2011). 6. Strategic Issues Americares has strategic issues associated with fundamental polices influencing critical chance of principles, values, and directives in the organization. In fact, these strategic issues focus on costs, financing and management of order resources in the organization. There are other substantial needs established through these strategic issues aimed at facilitating increase of organizations performance, which is evident by achievement of their objectives (Bryson, 2011). Issues identified in the organization are concise thereby facilitating the process of framing and addressing them in the organization. Strategic issues also concerns basic questions regarding issues influence their mandate, management or an organizational structure. Therefore, there is a necessity of identifying these strategic issues in AmeriCares in order to facilitate organization sustainability and prosperity. In this case, the first identifiable strategic issue is increasing demand from patients and a decrease in types of institutional assistance (American Hospital Association, 2009). Consequently, AmeriCares has been suffering from implications caused by various recessions that are exacerbating prior to the economic downturn leading to other challenges. The other strategic issue regards adoption of health care systems with health information technology (HIT), which is attributed to technological advancement. In fact, HIT facilitates substantial care coordination among numerous health care services providers (Americares, 2011). This has also proven to be crucial during emergency cases. This issue has a positive implication to AmeriCares, whereby they ensure that every free clinic has acquired integration HIT in order to enhance the quality of their health care service. 7. Strategies to Address the Issues The first strategic issue regarding rising demand of health care services and decrease in the number of health care institutions can be addressed by seeking donors’ assistance as practical alternative for obtaining funds in order to achieve their objectives. This form of collaboration can enable this organization to establish more institutions to deal with rising demand of health care, and rehabilitation services in the society. In order to facilitate the process of adopting HIT in the health care clinics and hospitals will need creating awareness and offering training for the need of integrating information technology and health care practices to improve quality of health care services. In order to address the strategic issues, which have been identified, Americare may apply direct approach, whereby strategic planners can focus on responsibilities and organizational objectives (Bryson, 2011). Moreover, a SWOT analysis on the organization can facilitate identification resources that are vital for addressing these issues. In fact, this approach is suitable for Americare given that they do not have a form of agreement regarding achievement of goals with their stakeholders (Bryson & Einsweiler, 1988). Highly preferred of approach of addressing these strategic issues requires the strategic planners to focus outlook of mandates and organizational goals. Strategic planners are required to conduct a SWOT analysis to identify resources that can be deployed in ways that are compatible with the public and government agencies (Bryson & Delbecq, 1979). Therefore, this approach is best applied in the absence of an agreement on goals. 8. Adopting the Strategic Plan a) Practical alternatives or visions we might pursue to address this strategic issue In order to adopt a strategic plan there is need to seek practical alternatives applicable in solving the problems emanating from these strategic issues whereby Americare can seek financial aid from other organizations, governments or donors. Therefore, this can assist this organization to acquire funds to facilities ways of to deal with increasing demand from patients in future. b) Barriers to realization of these alternatives, dreams or idealized scenarios  Identifying the possible barriers can assist Americare in realization of alternatives that are free from intervention form government and economic factors. For example, political actors in certain countries can impose policies with a negative impact on operations of the organization. On the other hand, economic factor such as a recession can hinder expansion of facilities and receiving of government aid. c) Major proposals pursued to achieve these alternatives, dreams and overcome barriers to their realization There are proposal, which can be pursued, to achieve alternatives, dreams and to overcome the barriers in a way that creates awareness of the organization among independent parties that do not have government interferences (Bryson, 1988). Given that, these parties can assist the organization even during the recession; this can help overcome barriers and facilitate achievement of the dreams. d) Major actions must be taken to implement the major proposals Strategies to promote the organization through marketing can be applied, thereby informing numerous parties about existence of the organization and the responsibilities taken by the organization in the society (Taylor, 1984). In fact, this will require the existing staff to implement the proposal in order to increase the number of donors for the organization. e) Specific steps to implement major proposals and those who is responsible Americare can focus in making steps to implement the major proposal are such as launching marketing camping through internet, media and other ways of advertising in order to promote the organization. Moreover, marketing managers in the organization is charged with a role of implementing these proposals. In fact, the most constructive process is strategy formulation, which determines major actions that are needed to overcome barriers and facilitate implementation of proposed alternatives (Bryson, 2011). 9. Organizational Future Vision If the organization were fully implemented, the chances of establishing more institution to deal with the rising demand would be very high. In this case, the future of Americare is based on the effort of the stakeholders and personnel in the organization, who are charged in executing their mandate. 10. Implementation Process The process of implementing strategies in Americare needs compliance to three major aspects in form of guidelines. The first one involves definition of strategic goals, whereby the organizations selects, identifies and communicates the strategic plan. The second aspect involves conducting analysis on the environment in order to identify the opportunities and threats that can facilities or impend the implementation process respectively. The third aspect is deployment of resources to the implementation process, monitoring and evaluating the performance of the organization. 11. Monitoring and Re-evaluation According to Shapiro (2012), monitoring a strategic plan involves collecting and analyzing of pertinent information concerning progress of implementing the strategic plan. Monitoring the strategic plan in Americares would involve setting objectives and planning activities in the process of implementing the strategic plan (Bryson, 2011). In fact, monitoring is regarded as an inconsistent tool for managing the implementation process of a strategic plan (Bryson, 2004). Re-evaluation process involves comparing actual project against effects of agreed strategic plan (Shapiro, 2012). This relates to objectives, which are accomplished through the implementation process. In this case, Americare organization would conduct re-evaluation on strategic plans that are implemented formatively (Bryson & Alston, 2005). In fact, this process can facilitate improvement of organization performance. 12. Reflections on the Strategic Planning Process There are some vital insights, which have been established through a research on the process of strategic planning. In fact, this exploration offers a basis for understanding and appreciating the need conducting an internal and external analysis on the organization during strategic planning. This analysis enables planners to formulate objectives and communicate their objectives to those charged with the responsibility of implementing the strategies. There is need to plan the implementation process in order to facilitate achievement of set objectives. Therefore, the strategic plan is vital for ensuring that the organization such as Americares remains on the track to achieve their vision and mission. References AmeriCares. (2013). What We Do: AmeriCares Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Efforts. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from < http://www.americares.org/whatwedo/> AmeriCares. (2013). Our Model. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from < http://www.americares.org/whatwedo/model.html> AmeriCares. (2013). AmeriCares Mission: Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from < http://www.americares.org/aboutus/> Americares. (2013). Internships At-A-Glance. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from  Americares. (2011). Addressing Resource Gaps in the U.S. Health Care Safety Net: An Assessment of the Free Clinic Network. GE Foundation. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from American Hospital Association. (2009). The Economic Crisis: The Toll on the Patients and Communities Hospitals Serve: A Survey of Hospital CEOs. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from< http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2009/pdf/090427econcrisisreport.pdf>. Berryman, S. (2009). What is a SWOT Analysis, and Why is it Important? EzineArticles.com. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from < http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-a-SWOT-Analysis,-and-Why-is-it-Important?&id=2420795> Bryson, J.M. & Alston, F.K. (2005). Creating and Implementing Your Strategic Plan: A Workbook for Public and Non-Profit Organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers Bryson, J.M. (2011). Strategic planning for public and non-profit organizations: A guide to strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. San Francisco: Jossey Bass Bryson J. M. (1988). A Strategic Planning Process for Public and Non-profit Organizations. Long Range Planning, 21(1)73-81 Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from Bryson J. M. & Einsweiler, R. C. (1988). Strategic Planning for Public Purposes-Concepts, Tools and Cases. Chicago, IL: The Planners’ Press of the American Planning Association Bryson J. M. & Delbecq A. L. (1979). A contingent approach to strategy and tactics in project planning. Journal of the American Planning Association, 45, 167-179 Magicman, J. (2011). Importance of SWOT Analysis. Expertscolumn.com. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from < http://expertscolumn.com/content/importance-swot-analysis> Management Study Guide. (2012). SWOT Analysis. Retrieved on Feb 15 2012 from Taylor, B. (1984). Strategic planning-which style do you need? Long Range Planning 17, 51-62 Shapiro J. (2012). Monitoring and Evaluation. Civicus. Retrived on Feb 14 2013 from Read More