Methods of Strategic Planning

From the AAMC National Meeting of Medical School Basic Science Department Chairs, Salt Lake City, 7-9 Oct 05

• A strategic plan should be developed every 3 or 5 years
• Planning should involve the faculty early
• The plan should not be too grandiose
• It is critical to have an action plan, to communicate it to the Dean, and to make it part of the department's 5-year review
• After the strategic planning meeting, invite faculty members' partners for cocktails and a meal
• Between strategic planning meetings, an advisory committee should sift through strategy suggestions, and sugestions for retreat topics
• A paper ballot should be considered for changes in initiatives; for most issues, formal votes are not needed
• Faculty need to have a picture of overall income and expenses
• The external review should be done after the strategic plan is developed