1. Kelly J. Harris SEARCH Deputy Executive Director
Strategic Planning 10 Critical Success Factors and Sure-Fire Ways to Fail!
Kelly J. Harris
SEARCH Deputy Executive Director

2. Information Sharing Initiatives Are Difficult!
Requires in-depth understanding of:
Agency business processes
Independent but Interdependent Organizations
User needs
Legal requirements
Procedural issues
Technology
How to align all of these elements
Page 11

3. IT is a Strategic Issue Multiple budget cycles to build
Multiple funding streams that must be leveraged
In regional and/or integrated justice efforts that involve multiple agencies and different disciplines:
Independent agencies
Separate branches of government
Independent systems for collecting and maintaining data

4. Standish Group Findings

5. Top 10 Critical Success Factors
User Involvement
Executive Management Support
Clear Statement of Requirements
Proper Planning
Realistic Expectations
Interim Project Milestones
Competent Staff
Ownership
Clear Vision and Objectives
Hard-working, Focused Staff

6. You’re Project Is At Risk If…
KELLY
Standish Group Findings = Top 10 Things Org’s can do to increase their chances of success
Result = The 10 Elements of Strategic Planning

7. Don’t Establish a Governance Structure1
Don’t Establish a Governance Structure
Pitfall Avoidance!
Establish a formal governance structure
Employ a steering committee with executive participation
Create and use subgroups
Hire or assign a dedicated project manager
FOR EACH PITFALL: explain why it’s a pitfall, then the avoidance piece.
BILL
After summarizing slide, seek examples:
Large Agency
Small Agency
Page
24-36

8. Sample Governance Structure

9. 2
Don’t Honestly Assess Human Resources You Have Available to Dedicate to This
KELLY
Pitfall Avoidance!
Secure executive management support
Involve Users
Have an invested and competent staff
Have a hard-working, focused staff
Page 37

10. Don’t Analyze Business Process & Information Exchanges3
Don’t Analyze Business Process & Information Exchanges
Pitfall Avoidance!
Get information sharing partners together
Analyze business processes
Use an accepted methodology and Tool
Find ways to improve and enhance processes and capabilities

11. Don’t Develop a Strategy Document4
Don’t Develop a Strategy Document
Pitfall Avoidance!
Formalize Your Plans, including goals and objectives
Determine priorities
Constantly assess those plans
Define scope and agree upon scope with project team
Develop/execute change management process
BILL
Page
121

12. It’s All Related…

13. Don’t Set Realistic Timeframes or Manage Expectations5
Don’t Set Realistic Timeframes or Manage Expectations
Pitfall Avoidance!
Prepare a realistic timeline
Identify resources within a Gantt chart
Identify measurable interim milestones
Develop/execute change management process
KELLY
Page
129

14. Don’t Create A Realistic Budget6
Don’t Create A Realistic Budget
Pitfall Avoidance!
Prepare one-time/recurring cost estimates
Budget for all project-related costs
Develop and use detailed payment plans
Develop cost controls
BILL
Page
137

15. Don’t Develop Performance Measures7
Don’t Develop Performance Measures
Pitfall Avoidance!
Establish Goals
Create mechanisms for measurement
Identify minimum acceptance criteria
For Technology develop and execute acceptance test plan(s)
KELLY
Page
213

16. 8 Don’t Communicate Page 159 Pitfall Avoidance!
Develop a Communications Plan
Include/Inform All Stakeholders
Analyze and Report Progress/Performance
Use a Website
BILL
Page
159

17. 9 Don’t Adopt Standards Page 149 Pitfall Avoidance!
Understand standards efforts underway
Use models where available
Where standards are lacking, create them in your jurisdiction; base them on open standards
KELLY
Page
149

18. Do Not Improve Participating Agency Information Systems10
Do Not Improve Participating Agency Information Systems
Pitfall Avoidance!
Recognize the need to prioritize
Page
149

19. Process, Not a “Project”
KELLY

20. Resources SEARCH Technical Assistance No cost to you
Funded by Bureau of Justice Assistance