Page 24 - Association of ADFAS, Strategic Plan 2020-2026, Book Format, Version 2.05b (PFarr, 23Oct2020)_Classical

Association of ADFAS Strategic Plan 2020-2026: ‘Embracing the Arts, enriching Australia’

8 ACTION PLAN AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET flags?
1. How committed/unified are the EC, National Office Bearers and Societies’
Chairmen to implementing the plan to move ADFAS forward?
8.1 Preparing for Strategy Implementation 2. How do we plan to communicate the plan throughout ADFAS?
3. How are we going to motivate the Stakeholders?
This planning document for the Association and Societies is a means to an end 4. Are both the Association and the Societies going to commit resources,
rather than an end in itself. time and money to truly support the plan?
5. What are the foreseeable roadblocks to implementing and supporting the
The strategic plan addresses the what and why of activities, but implementation plan?
addresses the who, where, when, and how. 6. How will we make resources available and achieve maximum results with

Implementation is the process that turns strategies and plans into actions in order them?
to accomplish strategic objectives and goals. Implementing the strategic plan is
obviously equally as important as the strategy itself. Key Conclusion: This Strategic Plan should not be treated as something
separate and removed from the Association’s management process.
Although the topic of implementation may not be the most exciting thing to talk
about, it’s a fundamental business practice that’s critical for any strategy to take 8.3 Implementation Essentials
hold.
Five key components are necessary to support implementation: people,
So ultimately, the key issue with Strategic Planning is not the Plan document per resources, structure, systems, and culture:
se but its implementation. The recommendation here is to hold the Association’s 1.) Have the right people on board;
Executive Committee accountable, and for that to happen the implementation and 2.) Have sufficient funds and enough time to support implementation;
monitoring of the Plan MUST be an agenda item REGULARLY at Executive 3.) Set a structure of management and appropriate lines of authority. A plan
Committee meetings. A Method is needed to track progress, AND progress must owner and regular strategy meetings are the two easiest ways to put a
be reported regularly to the Stakeholders at (annual) Council meetings. structure in place. Meetings to review the progress should be scheduled
(say) quarterly.
Accountability and high visibility help drive change. This means that each measure, 4.) Set management and technology systems to track the progress of the plan;
objective, data source, and initiative must have an “owner”. 5.) Create an environment that truly connects volunteers and paid staff to the
ADFAS mission and that makes them feel comfortable.
8.2 Avoiding Common Implementation Pitfalls
8.4 Base Implementation Plan Steps
According to a study conducted by Fortune Magazine, most organizations fail to
implement their strategic plan for such reasons as: 1.) Obtain input from all invested parties: Strategic Planning Sub-
➢ don’t link strategy to budgeting (=> need an aligned budgeting and committee, EC, Association staff, Circuits and the Societies.
planning system); 2.) Align the budget to annual goals based on financial assessment.
➢ don’t link incentives to strategy (=> need to translate the vision); 3.) Establish a scorecard system for tracking and monitoring the plan.
➢ spend inadequate time per month/quarter discussing strategy (=> need an 4.) Build other associated (annual) plans around the Strategic Plan – e.g.
effective feedback and learning system); Financial Plan/Business Plan, Marketing Plan.
➢ workforce/volunteers don’t understand their organisation’s strategy (=> 5.) Set up (quarterly) strategy meetings with established reporting to monitor
need to communicate and link the objectives). progress.
6.) Set up annual strategic review dates, including new assessments and a
In the case of ADFAS, consider the following questions – and are there any red (large group (i.e. Council + Observers) meeting for an Annual Plan Review.

Association of ADFAS, Strategic Plan 2020-2026, Version 2.05 (PFarr, 23Oct2020) 23