STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MISSION STATEMENTS 1
Decision Making Guide for Public or Nonprofit Organization
Southern New Hampshire University
PAD 631
Werlaine Badio
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MISSION STATEMENTS 2
Organizations carry out strategic planning to aid management and leadership in
recognizing and responding to "important issues or difficulties facing a company" (Bryson,
2011, p. 7). Strategic planning is the "careful, methodical process of making the long-term
choices and taking the long-term activities that determine the nature, direction, and success of
an organization or other institution" (Bryson, 2011, p. 7). A comprehensive familiarity with the
organization's objectives and challenges is necessary to develop an effective strategic plan. The
primary facilitator should be able to get the message out, stimulate debate, and encourage
participation from all the right decision-makers, specialists, organizations, and regular folks.
Numerous goals are served by the strategic planning process, including the discovery of new
avenues for development and expansion, the "restructure, reengineer, reframe, or repurpose;
budget allocations and other strategies and vehicles for change" of the planning committee's
proposed changes, and the implementation of these changes (Bryson, 2011, p. 8).
Disney, the Sierra Club, and Miami-Dade County, Florida, are the organizations that I
have selected to investigate further in this paper. There are three types of organizations
represented here, one each from the governmental sector, the corporate sector, and the nonprofit
sector. While each group falls into one of these three categories, they all share a commitment to
efficient and effective management. In addition, they all bring something unique to the table as
they work to live out their missions and fulfill their visions.
The Disney Corporation was founded in 1923, and since then, it has become one of the
largest "producers and suppliers of entertainment and information" in the world. We plan to
create the most original, cutting-edge, and financially successful forms of entertainment and
associated products globally by leveraging our diverse portfolio of brands across our content,
services, and consumer goods (AboutLeadership). This is done precisely to follow its mission
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which is to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of
unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds and innovative
technologies that make ours the world's premier entertainment company. The Walt Disney
Company's long-term strategy aims to grow and enter new markets worldwide by encouraging
innovation, developing and deploying cutting-edge technology, and producing high-quality,
family-friendly entertainment.
The Sierra Club, a nonprofit, has been around for a long time and is often regarded as
the most influential and effective grassroots environmental group in the United States. They
have expanded their reach to millions of individuals all over the country by establishing a
"national community of volunteers, advocates, grassroots activists, partner organizations,
NGOs, and campaigns to build a diverse, inclusive movement" (Sierra Club). The Sierra Club's
stated mission is as follows: "to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet; . To practice and promote
the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to
protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment, and to use all lawful
means to carry out those objectives." (Sierra Club). In addition, this group's mission is to stop
the exploitation of nature's resources and the environment via outreach and education.
Miami-Dade County, Florida, is the final entity we'll examine. A little over 17 years ago,
Miami-Dade County established a system to organize strategic planning and evaluate results.
This strategy "cuts across a variety of service delivery sectors, including public safety,
transportation and mobility, health and society, neighborhood and infrastructure, recreation and
culture, economic development, and general government services" (Miami-Dade County, 2012).
In order to evaluate the results of their services and spot any holes in the system, Miami-Dade
encourages all of their divisions to coordinate their efforts with the County's long-term strategic
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MISSION STATEMENTS 4
plan and newly-introduced performance indicators. The mission statement of the county, which
reads, "To provide effective and efficient resident and business services that: respond to
community priorities and needs; help all our residents and businesses to prosper and thrive;
make our community safe and more resilient; and build trust and collaboration inside and
outside county government" (Miamidade.gov).
While each of these three organizations pursues its own distinct aims and offers its own
unique set of requirements, beliefs, and methods, they all share one thing in common: they have
all successfully adopted best practices and evidence-based techniques inside their own business.
In order to advise and "create capacity for continuing implementation, learning, and strategic
change"(Bryson, 2011, p. 31), I will be conducting research, conducting reviews, and making
strategic recommendations on matters unique to their organizational structure and practice.
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MISSION STATEMENTS 5
References
About – Leadership. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23rd, 2020, from
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/about/#leadership About - Sierra Club.
(n.d.). Retrieved November 27th, 2022, from https://www.sierraclub.org
Bryson, J. (2011). Strategic Planning for Public and Non-Profit Organizations. Jossey-Bass
Publishing.
Miami-Dade County. Strategic Plan: Planning Process. (2012). Retrieved November 27th 2022,
https://www.miamidade.gov/global/management/strategic-plan/home.page
