ESSERGY CONSULTING 2-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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shelf, Essergy integrates strategy and implementation in the iterative process. Our focus on process issues aims at helping an organization achieve consensus and reach results with which it is satisfied. Although strategic plans typically begin with a facilitated meeting that emphasizes mission and vision, close collaboration with the City of Santa Ana, plus time constraints, will obviate the need for such a facilitated meeting. The required SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis will follow from the interviews and gathering of data, plus a foundational analysis with which Santa Ana will concur before taking the next step. We consider this is most important part of the planning process and devote considerable time to it, A second element of Essergy strategic planning process is that we keep our eye on implementation from beginning to end, We believe that the way a decision is made is as important as its outcome. Strategic plans result in changes. Change is difficult. It must be envisioned and planned for from the outset of the engagement. We break the strategic planning process into the following phases: • Analysis of existing literature, data, and plans. Gathering of economic data (piers budgets, marketing opportunides„etc) from public and sources and meet.tings with Santa Ann econontfc professional, and othereoommuupity stakeholders named in the RFQ Objectives. • Foundational analysis, Triage to identify key issues to address from points of view of Santa Ana economic development staff and community. The outcome Is a prioritized list of strategic needs to be confirmed by Santa Ana. Plan defines the parameters of Success, • Strategic plan, Conversion of the analysis into a plan that sets short and long terms goals; defines success in meeting the goals; identifies the human, material, and dollar costs associated with each goal; and creates a milestone chart with costs attached for meeting the goals. • implementation plan, Work breakdown structure and workflow plan that converts the plan into a series of actions and details each itern in the top level strategic plan milestone chart, Ongoing support, Essergy will provide ongoing support as needed and specifically requested by Santa Ana. Essergy Strategic planu ng cote values. Essergy conducts its consultations based on the following ideasr • Writing a plan Is relatively easy, implementing one Is relatively hard. Any strategic plan must be practical, include the resources to realize it, and secure the widest possible consensus and trust. • Honor whatworks. Let both the impetus and motivation for change arise from the client. Change must not be imposed, it must develop organically. • Do notcancludeto* soon, Incorporate as many ideas as possible before winnowing them down to create priorities. Difficulties in implementation often are a product of "soft" buy-In or concerns that not all sides have been heard. • Encourage creative tension, Company and government cultures that simply go along to get along often by-pass important creative ideas and side-roads that can prove fruitful, Agreement that is too easy can hide, rather than illuminate problems. • Encourage measurable, practical results. Results must medlate between long term goals and near term needs and resources. The two go hand-in-hand, and both require definitions of success that can be assessed and acted upon. Proposal to Santa Ana Esserg f Const,tatng 3/22/2013 Page 2