Whitehorse Community Health Service Australian Centre for Healthcare Governance 2014 Governance Excellence Award Winner

ACHG 2014 Governance Excellence Award The Board challenge: how to ensure what is set at a strategic level is being implemented at an organisational level This may seem simple, but it is often said that strategy is rendered useless because of failure to implement and execute. Implementing the strategic plan through quarterly goals: management of Whitehorse Community Health Service (WCHS) organisational performance and accountability “If companies would invest as much time in their strategy cascade as they do in their budgeting process, most would perform a lot better” Jeroen de Flander

The three-year strategic plan was developed in 2013 A one-year business plan then created for the current financial year The business plan was summarised to one-page to be simple and memorable, then widely distributed throughout the organisation. The plan highlights the four key strategic pillars and the major strategic direction for each This one-year plan was then broken down into organisation- wide quarterly goals Quarterly targets were developed for all levels in the organisation, from the over-arching business goals, to management goals, and then individual and program goals At board level this information is reviewed using a traffic light system so the group are clear that long-term projects are being progressed in smaller sub-groups of work, with agreed milestones being ticked off at intervals during the project duration. Three-year strategic plan One-year business plan Summary – one page Quarterly goals - organisation Quarterly targets – each level in organisation (incl Board) Business goals Management goals Program goals Individual goals ACHG 2014 Governance Excellence Award Implementing strategic plan through quarterly goals

Benefits: Developing timely milestones and achievable levels that allow us to keep track of what can often be complex, long term, strategic goals Cascading goals throughout levels of the organisation to develop alignment, direction and control Motivating and aligning staff, as the opportunity to celebrate success occurs quarterly Ensuring the board is informed and steering the performance and accountability of the strategic goals, and not just the day-to-day activities of the organisation. The strategic plan is top of mind, operational and not simply “set and forget”. ACHG 2014 Governance Excellence Award Implementing strategic plan through quarterly goals