08/24/1999 Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning Committee Meeting

24 August 1999

Present: Kevin Kane, Michelle Lantermans, Stu Turner, Bill Schuman, Ray Willis, Todd Bishop, Jim G., Barb Berquam, Tim Johnson, Steve Gast, Dave Arringdale

1. Review of last meeting

Finalized resource listing, put together white paper team, listing of objectives that went to survey at conference, discussed input at conference and focus groups

2. Document so far

Should have resources, mission statement, goals, mission

3. Review of Strategic Planning documents from the Conference

Michelle explained the compilation of the documents. The first document which was distributed earlier via email was a summarization of the answers to the questions from the 3 brainstorming groups at the GIS Conference. No analysis was done, the answers were merely copied from the large sheets of paper to a digital format. Todd and Jim will create a table format of the answers for each question from this document.

The second document was a summarization of the attendee data from the 68 GIS surveys submitted at the conferece. Tallies from each question were listed out to show trends in travel distance, hardware/software usage, education levels, etc. Not every question was answered on every survey.

The final document was a compilation of the results from the objectives portion of the same survey. The document showed the total votes each objective received for each ranking 1-5. Michelle designed a ranking system, but commented that she was open to suggestions for a better way to rank the objective. Several people suggested a weighted average should be used. The top 3 objectives were easy to separate for each goal. However, depending on the system used, the order for those 3 objectives would change.

We decided to use 3 methods to rank as a way of justifying the order of importance. Bill added that the session reinforced the thoughts that the planning committee had come up with. Steve Gast commented that the results from the objective survey are somewhat confusing and could possibly be used to fine tune the "next" survey. Should some questions be restated to get a better spread of results.

Todd asked if we wanted to expand the distribution of the survey to a larger audience or are we comfortable with only 68 respondents. He also mentioned the original plan was to distribute the survey to the IGIC committee members as a way for them to interact with their constituents. The recommendation was made to rank the top 2 objectives in each goal and accomplish them this year. Bill proposed to develop the plan based on the top three goals and distribute it to the IGIC members to get their input. Also included will be a list of the other items listing them as other goals for the future.

4. Focus group discussion IGIC member constituency input of SOAP’s (services, objectives, actions, plans)

Barb asked how to integrate brainstorming session with surveys? The discussion following led to the determination to take list and have facilitator use it in discussion of objectives, as a way of focusing the focus groups.

The final plan is as follows: Use brainstorming data as focus group equivalent. Have information distributed through the listserve as a way of validation through Todd and Jim’s summarization. Re-survey IGIC members with original survey. Trim list to 2-3 and prioritize then send survey as last chance to comment. With the goal being a thin strategic plan by November 31.

Distribute survey as is to IGIC committee members with mandatory response. The results will be used to determine trends. Members should be responding as a representative of their constituency, include a letter that explains that. Due date is September 15^th. Also ask if they filled it out at the conference, but we would like it to be filled out anyway. Michelle will resurvey IGIC (possible SASE), second survey will be ranking top 10 items to 4. Second survey will go to big constituency.

5. Put together white paper team for SOAP input

Small group will put together instrument that will narrow long list to small list based on results from IGIC survey and other data. Bill suggested putting together outlines for working and final documents now. Kevin will start incorporating small pieces into a document and present results at next meeting. He will work with Ann and Michelle.

6. What’s next

End of September, early october for next meeting. (Try for September 28^th afternoon