Local Government solves a ten year problem

When Redland Shire Council came to Alitek for help with their planning processes, we identified that they (like many local governments and other large organisations) had the following problems:

• They were producing lots of plans (eg community plan, corporate plan, individual work unit plans, etc), but they were all prepared in isolation. Some of them had conflicting goals
• Often plans were produced in the wrong order, eg work unit plans were being prepared before the corporate goals had been set
• Some of the plans were complex and full of jargon, with no clear actions or responsibilities. They were therefore rarely used
• Goals were often fuzzy, with vague “vision statements”. There were no specific, measurable targets that would help them meet the community’s expectations
• There was no clear link between the plans, so that issues important to the community were sometimes lost at the operational level
• Each plan was produced using a different process, making it confusing for people who were involved in preparing more than one plan

Through a process of consultation, and applying the 80/20 business focus process Alitek helped Redland Shire Council prepare a Planning Framework, that created links from the Community Plan, down through the Corporate Plan, individual Work Unit Plans, Service Level Agreements, and individual position descriptions and performance assessments.

By the end of the process, Redland Shire Council had a planning framework that they believed gave them the following advantages:

• All of Council is now working towards clear, measurable targets based on community and Council needs and objectives

• The framework creates a clear link between community needs, corporate goals, Council policy, and day to day activities
• It is now easy for Councillors to report to the community on what has been achieved
• Roles and responsibilities (both internal and external) are clarified, increasing commitment to the organisation's vision
• Staff morale has improved as people understand how their roles contribute to the strategic goals of Council and meet community needs
• Decision making is quicker, easier, more cost effective, and produces better outcomes
• More consistent results are produced more often
• The framework provides a way to measure performance against meaningful targets

How can I find out more about developing an integrated planning framework for my business?

Email The Simpler Business Institute to discuss how you can develop an integrated planning framework for your business.

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