Educational and business leaders are challenged to align and to integrate new programs, as well as change initiatives, to meet the demands of a global economy. Improving performance at all levels is essential to the success of every institution.
Knowledge Design Group utilizes an operational planning approach to connect programs and change initiatives in a coordinated system that utilizes change leadership, sponsorship alignment, communication and marketing, project management, instructional systems design, and evaluation and measurement. This approach ensures fidelity to the goals of each initiative.
The Vision determines the direction of an organization and the design and implementation of all initiatives.
Championed by the CEO, or president of an organization or the superintendent of a school district, a vision should be developed with a strategic planning process that includes sponsors and stakeholders throughout an organization.
A well-designed vision has the following characteristics:
- Alignment with the organizations values and culture
- Inspirational
- Clear
- Attainable
- Measureable
- Time-based
An effective learning initiative or project must be specific to the organization and current environment and should address the following questions:
- History: What has been done in this area? What were the results? Were best practices identified? Were lessons learned?
- Environment: What is happening in the nation, state, community and our organization that relates to this project?
- Resources: This includes personnel, funding, organizational structure and support.
- Perceptions and Attitudes: What exists and what can we expect?
- Capabilities: Do we have the talents needed for the project? Can we get what we need?
- Needs: What alignment, coordination and organizational needs have been identified?
Alignment involves the coordination of the organizations personnel and resources to the project goal and the organizational vision.
Alignment is achieved through an operational planning process that connects the vision, goals, strategies, tasks, and activities.
Fidelity of implementation is essential. It can be achieved in the following ways:
- Provide clarity with respect to roles, responsibilities, completion dates and performance measures.
- Evaluate methods and progress throughout the learning or change initiative and use the feedback to adjust the design.
- Measure the results and communicate those results appropriately.
- Identify best practices and lessons learned.
- Continually update communications, tools and resources that support a successful implementation.
Improve Performance in Your Organization