Implementing Best Practices in Strategic

Planning and Continuous Improvement

February 10, 20122012 MPRA State

Conference

Session Objectives• Participants will be able to define best practices,

key performance indicators and explain their purpose and implementation in an agency.

• Participants will be able to implement best practices throughout the agency using various methods and approaches that help the agency, and avoid creating harm.

• Participants will utilize information on KPIs to further their understanding and discuss internal agency KPIs that are related to best practices for strategic planning and continuous improvement.

Best Practices

• A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means.

• Used as a benchmark, a best practice can evolve as improvements are discovered.

• Utilizing best practices often requires good research and a method to measure agency performance as in key performance indicators.

Best Practice Concepts

• Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries

• “Good" practices or "smart" practices offer insight into solutions that may or may not work for your situation

• “Contextual practice," in which the notion of what is "best" will vary with the context

Types of Best PracticesResearch Validated Best Practice

A program, activity or strategy that has the highest degree of proven effectiveness supported by objective and comprehensive research and evaluation.

Field Tested Best Practice

A program, activity or strategy that has been shown to work effectively and produce successful outcomes and is supported to some degree by subjective and objective data sources.

Promising Practice A program, activity or strategy that has worked within one organization and shows promise during its early stages for becoming a best practice with long term sustainable impact.

The Arena of Best Practice-KPI

Goals & Objectives

Critical SuccessFactors

KPIs

Metrics

Measures

KPIs Metrics Measures

Objective

Subjective

Difficult Precise

Measureable

Immeasureable

Best Practices in Strategic Planning• Effectiveness of Target Setting• Comprehensiveness of Target Setting• Formality of External Analysis• Innovation of Benchmarking• Comprehensiveness of Organizational Analysis• Formality of Internal Analysis• Execution of Action Plans• Sophistication of Action Plans• Strategic Planning Coordination• Strategic Planning Support

Best Practices in Continuous Improvement

• Organizational Learning• Capacity Dynamic• CI Coordination• CI Execution• CI Support

A Logic Model Approach

• Utilizing best practices often requires good research and a method to measure agency performance as in key performance indicators.

• Identify and prioritize KPIs using logic models.• Logic models: graphic/tabular representation

of program inputs, outputs, and outcomes.

A Logic Model Approach

MissionVisionValues

Inputs Activities Outputs OutcomesShort-term Mid-Term Long-term(Learning) (Action) (Impact)

<<<<<<<< Program Design & Planning <<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>> Program Impact Measurement >>>>>>>

KPIs KPIs KPIs

A Logic Model Approach

Mission

Foster environmental stewardship in youth through

education

Inputs Activities**BP’s**

Outputs OutcomesShort-term Mid-Term Long-term(Learning) (Action) (Impact)

• Naturalist• Facility• Grant award• Supplies• Students

• Field trip experience

• Indoor discussion

• Guided hike• Trash pick-up• Hands-on

activity

• 100 programs• 2,300 youth

participants• 10,000

contact hours• 2 tons of

trash removed from trail

• Student knowledge of local ecosystem increases

• Students learn about negative impacts of pollution

• Student appreciation of ecosystem increases

• Families spend more time doing outdoor activities

• Local ecosystem health improves

• Student physical health improves

<<<<<<<< Program Design & Planning <<<<<<<<

>>>>>>>> Program Impact Measurement >>>>>>>

KPIs•Test scores•“Ecological Competency Index”

KPIs•# hours outdoors•“Outdoor Appreciation Index”

KPIs•BMI•“Env. Health Index”

Developing Your Agencies Own Best Practices and KPIs Workshop

• Defining what is important• Defining what is measurable• Defining a process for determining best

practices and KPIs• Finding an administrative home for best

practices and KPIs• Planning for implementation• Small groups report out

Conclusion

Steve Wolter, CPRP Jeff Bransford, CPRPExecutive Director Associate Directorsawolter@indiana.edu jbransfo@indiana.edu

Eppley Institute for Parks and Public LandsIndiana Universitywww.eppley.org812.855.3095