User:Mike Cline/USCAN Working Group Drafts/Methodology

First and foremost, strategy is all about aligning individuals around clear, concise, measurable and desirable enterprise goals. In this case, the WMF foundation goal was to design and implement a self-sustaining structure for the US Canada Education Program via a working group of diverse stakeholders. Adopting a specific strategy process expedited achievement of that goal and provided stakeholders a simple structure and set of planning/execution tools to facilitate implementation. The process generates the following deliverables out of open/transparent planning sessions facilitated by an expert in the process:

• A Future Picture that describes in clear, concise, measurable and desirable terms the future state (June 2015) of a functioning structure/program.
• Strategic measurements that indicate progress toward and achievement of that Future Picture
• A set of Guiding Precepts that will guide the behavior of the Working Group and other stakeholders as the plan is developed and implemented.
• A set of Phase I and Phase II (~Q4 2012 – 2013) objectives that are clear, concise and measurable that if achieved will lead to achievement of the future picture.
• A set of internal/external centers of gravity that must be affected to achieve phase objectives. Typically these Centers of gravity translate into specific projects or tactical activity that must be completed to achieve objectives and are assigned to Task Forces to complete.
• All stakeholders involved in and with the Working Group operated openly with a common set of strategy tools and processes allowing for complete alignment as the process moved forward.
• All working group participants to include key WMF sponsors recieved training in the process prior to and during planning sessions. Process details can be found in these references.,