Professional Certificate in Leadership and Management -

Certificate in Electoral Processes

Guide to Planning for Electoral Management Bodies

Types of Planning

• Strategic Plan

• Operational Plans

• Departmental Activity Plans

• Individual Activity Plans

The Strategic Plan

• Strategic planning is a systematic process to determine what an organization wants to be in the future and the methods to achieve that end.

• Develops the future vision and the mission or purpose of EMB, identifies problems, and decides what goals, objectives and actions are required to resolve them.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Central Election Commission of Georgia is a public body; the mission of the CEC is to be an independent arbiter and conduct the elections in accordance with the law. The election administration is not to be involved in the political discussions.

VISION + MISSION STATEMENTS

• Our vision is to be recognized for excellence in electoral administration.

• Our mission is to maintain the integrity of Queensland’s electoral system.

CORPORATE VALUES STATEMENT

• Our Corporate Values are committed to: providing quality electoral services to clients throughout

Queensland; accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness and accountability in

management, administration and delivery; management practices and client services governed by the

principles of social justice: equity, access, equality and participation;

maintaining a work environment which is safe, healthy and promotes innovation and excellence; and

regularly reviewing and evaluating our effectiveness using recorded performance data.

MISSION STATEMENT

• The National Electoral Commission (NEC) is a public institution, whose mission is to organize, conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda, register all eligible voters, demarcate constituency boundaries and make regulations for the efficient performance of its functions.

MISSION STATEMENT

• The NEC also seeks to impartially serve all stakeholders in the electoral process, and to undertake voter education programs for the citizens of Sierra Leone as a means of promoting and sustaining democracy and good governance.

BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

• Promotes strategic thought and action• Improve decision-making • Strengthen CEC’s organizational responsiveness

and performance• Directly benefit policy makers • Allows CEC to develop comprehensive plans• Ensure a greater chance of organizational

success

The Strategic Planning Cycle

2.Gathering

Information

2.Gathering

Information

3. Needs Assessment

Issue and Problem Analysis

3. Needs Assessment

Issue and Problem Analysis

4.Developing Mission Goals,

Objectives

Actions

4.Developing Mission Goals,

Objectives

Actions

5.Adopting and Implementing

the Plan

5.Adopting and Implementing

the Plan

6.Monitoring and evaluation6.Monitoring

and evaluation

1.Organizing

Process

1.Organizing

Process

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• 1. ORGANIZING THE PROCESS• Forming the Strategic Planning Team• Commissioners, Departmental Heads,

others(?)• Organizational Framework• Team understands the SP process• Who will lead? Geographical area covered?

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• 2. GATHERING INFORMATION• Physical Environment – buildings owned and

buildings used• Financial Environment – Healthy budget? Can

all members of the team have access to it?• Social Environment - # voters, # staff, political

parties, NGOs• Understanding the EMB– committees,

resources

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• 3. NEEDS ASSESSMENT – ISSUE AND PROBLEM ANALYSIS

• Analyze information collected above • Identify, analyze, and prioritize strategic issues

or problems• KISS• SWOT Analysis

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• 4. DEVELOPING MISSION GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

• Identify overall goals – long term

• Identify objectives – short term

• Need to be SMART

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• S - Specific• M - Measurable• A - Achievable• R - Realistic• T – Timebound

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• 5. ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN• Draft for the Commission• Comments back to SPT• Adopting the Strategic Plan• Print and Publish• Implementing the plan• Live Document

The Strategic Planning Cycle

• 6. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• Responsibility• Feasibility• Resources – Key people• Timetable• Evaluation

Operational Plans

• Specific to an event• Voter registration• Election• Out of Country Voting• Very detailed written internal document• Lead Department• All involved

Operational Plans

• Timing of Operational Plans?

• Concept of Operations

• Detailed written internal document

• Timing of Concept document?

ACTIVITY PLANS

• Departmental Activity Plans• Numerous activities• Deliverables• Results• Timescale• Who is responsible?• Examples

ACTIVITY PLANS

• Individual Activity Plans• Examination of Departmental Activity Plan• Head of Department and CEC employee• Departmental meetings• Structured meetings• Agenda• Includes Activity Plans• Minutes?