Ed Morrison · Managing a regional strategy

February 9th, 2010

Yesterday, in Evansville, I worked with a core group of ten regional leaders from a three state region of twenty-seven counties touching Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

We explored how to manage a complex strategy in this large a region. In April, we will launch this approach with a regional gathering of about 100 people from across the region.

Thomas Malone from MIT calls this organizational structure a “loose hierarchy”. I prefer the term “managed network”. This approach is light weight and nimble. As we move forward, we are budgeting for 1.5 full time staff people.

Total admin budget will be about $100,000 per year. This approach replicates the model we have been using at Purdue with our 14 county region for the past three years.

managment of strategic plan2

Last 5 posts by Ed Morrison

Random Posts

Category: BFD
2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Managing a regional strategy”

  1. JS Says:
    February 9th, 2010 at 10:13 am

    Would April be when Strategic Focuses are chosen? Proposed? Both?

    Do action plans have result assessment built in? How about health and function of the network? How can you detect and prevent dysfunctional interactions on such a network?

    Given a previous post on Web 2.0, and recent county issues of transparency, where can someone interested in this process view an accounting and auditing of fiscal agents where comments can be made.

    And, given NEO’s penchant for using comment to diffuse change rather than implement it, where can one find actual changes made based on “listening projects” and their like?

    Will there be a strategic doing economic dashboard? If so, where might that be found?

  2. Ed Morrison Says:
    February 10th, 2010 at 8:41 am

    >>Would April be when Strategic Focuses are chosen? Proposed? Both?

    We have completed a review of past reports for the region and made decisions on which focus areas to start. Other areas will be added as networks develop. A regional strategy works best with about five focus areas.

    >>Do action plans have result assessment built in?

    Initiative charters outline metrics. These are reviewed regularly. In North Central Indiana, we conducted weekly, monthly and quarterly reviews.

    >>How about health and function of the network?

    The health of the network is measured by its productivity. Productivity is measured according to a variety of metrics.

    >>How can you detect and prevent dysfunctional interactions on such a network?

    These networks are based on disciplines of civility. With these disciplines in place, the networks are self-correcting.

    >>Given a previous post on Web 2.0, and recent county issues of transparency, where can someone interested in this process view an accounting and auditing of fiscal agents where comments can be made.

    The project web site is being developed by Purdue and the University of Southern Indiana. We are using a platform developed out of Research Triangle.

    >>And, given NEO’s penchant for using comment to diffuse change rather than implement it, where can one find actual changes made based on “listening projects” and their like?

    This project is being launched in the 27 county region in IN, IL, and KY. NEO has nothing to do with it.

    >> Will there be a strategic doing economic dashboard?

    The term dashboard is pretty fuzzy. There are metrics baked into each initiative.

    >>If so, where might that be found?

    All of the information on initiatives will be reviewed publicly semi-annually. In April, we will announce the next gathering. All information will be posted on the project web site. The key is to keep a regional strategy process both open and focused.