# Strategic Planning for Government Organizations Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/strategic-planning-for-government-organizations-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Strategic Planning for Government Organizations builds your practical understanding of how federal agencies develop, implement, and manage strategic plans, including the core requirements that connect strategic plans, annual performance plans, and performance reporting. You will review how strategy is defined, walk through the major phases of planning from development to implementation to ongoing management, and connect the federal performance cycle to your day-to-day responsibilities.

You will also apply what you learn through structured analysis and hands-on exercises. Working with sample agency plans, you will assess how well a strategic plan conforms to expected components, compare approaches across agencies, and practice aligning your operational unit to agency goals using measurable objectives and clear performance measures. The course closes by addressing common public-sector barriers to implementation, so you can anticipate execution risks and improve follow-through in your organization.

## What you'll learn

- Describe the recent history of strategic planning and how it is conducted by federal government agencies.
- Describe the steps in developing, implementing, and managing a strategic plan.
- Assess their agency’s strategic plan and compare it with other agencies’ plans.
- Align the plans of operating units with the agency’s strategic plan.
- Recognize common barriers to successful strategic plan implementation.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Introduction to Strategic Planning

- Define the term strategy.
- Review a quick history of strategic planning and approaches in the federal government.
- Review OMB guidance for developing a strategic plan.
- Describe the steps in developing, implementing, and managing a strategic plan.

#### Module 2: Analyzing Your Agency’s Strategic Plan

- Review the structure of a federal agency’s strategic plan.
- Determine whether the plan conforms to the traditional approach outlined by OMB.
- Identify variations, strengths, and risks.

#### Module 3: Developing Measures for Agency and Unit Priorities

- Describe what an aligned organization looks like.
- Describe an alignment matrix.
- Identify measurement requirements.
- Apply two tips for developing measures.

#### Module 4: Applying Agency Goals and Measures to Your Operational Unit Workshop

- Apply the concept of cascading down and linking up to your work unit.
- Explore how goals and objectives link to higher-level plans in your organization.
- Identify specific ways your work unit supports and contributes to accomplishing your agency, directorate, or division plan.

#### Module 5: Barriers to Strategic Plan Implementation

- Explore traditional barriers to implementing strategic plans.
- Discuss common strategic plan pitfalls in the public sector.
- Discuss two case study examples.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $649