While completing this weeks assignments I started thinking about strategic planning.  I was not real familiar with the term and wanted to do some research to find out how much it was used in nursing.  I came across an article about implementing healthcare informatics in nursing education, and the authors were talking about strategic planning.  I found it interesting when the authors were talking about the differences between conventional planning and strategic planning.  Sackett, Jones, and Erdley (2009) noted that "Strategic planning takes into account the vision of long range goals for the institution and is an on-going evaluationary process.  Conventional planning tends to be more strictly focused" (p. 100).  I never really thought there was a difference, when you say planning I think that is when you make a plan to do something.  I guess am much more in the mind set of conventional planning.  The article also mentioned that the idea of strategic planning was difficult for healthcare professionals, so maybe that is why I was struggling at first with this concept. 

I have also found a new analysis that I like the SWOT analysis, which is the
S - strengths
W - weaknesses
O - opportunities
T - Threats

This is new to me but I think I may have to start using it with my health team.  It may not be used in the same way that you use it in big organizations, but I think we could adapt it to our small group.  I can forsee using this sort of as an evaluation tool.  They can do their own SWOT analysis on themselves.  They can look at their strengths and weaknesses.  Then they can give some opportunities they might have, like going to trainings or become part of a community group.  The threat will be looked at as what threats do they see that might hinder them from doing their job well.  I know this is not maybe how it was intended to be used, but I really think it would be a good evaluation tool. 

I know my organization performs a Self Evaluation each year, which I associate with a SWOT analysis.  They are looking at strengths, weakness, and ways to improve the programs that are offered.  I take part in this every year, but never put much stock into until now.  I think this year I will try to be much more involved and help with some of the analysis. 

Reference:
Sackett, K., Jones, J., & Erdley, W. S. (2005). Incorporating healthcare informatics into the strategic planning process in nursing education. Nursing Leadership Forum, 9(3), 98-104. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/207441903?accountid=8483