Strategic Planning in Healthcare

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses William F. Crittenden and Victoria L. Crittenden's article about the factors that most influence the strategic planning process in nonprofit organizations. The writer explains some of the key findings of their research: for example, the larger the organization, the more manual the process, and nonprofits that are external in focus tend to more precisely organize their strategic planning process. The writer also presents important inferences from the research findings, and concludes by emphasizing the need for nonprofits to have an external focus, to select strategic objectives that can generate high levels of ownership internally, and to circulate the strategic plan for comments and approval, in order to accomplish their strategic objectives and mission as an organization.

Outline:
Introduction
Internal versus External Focus: Expressive versus Instrumental Organizations
Assessing Strategic Planning in Nonprofit Organizations

From the Paper:

"The ability of any organization to effectively monitor and interpret events in their external environment has a direct influence on their ability to plan effectively in both the short- and long-term. In the case of nonprofit organizations' propensity to scan the external environment, Crittenden & Crittenden (2000) define the myopic, inwardly focused organization as expressive, and the outward-focused, instrumental. A key finding of their research states that nonprofits that are external in focus tend to more precisely organize their strategic planning process, and also engender a higher level of ownership for the strategic plan itself between boards of directors, staff, key donors, volunteers and members by circulating the plan internally for review."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crittenden, William F; Victoria L, Crittenden (2000), Relationships between organizational characteristics and strategic planning processes in nonprofit organizations Journal of Managerial Issues; Summer 2000; 12, 2; ABI/INFORM Global pg. 150

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