This two-day course identifies the philosophy and practical approach for strategic planning as a tool for effective program development within the public, private and nonprofit sectors. The course lays the foundation for successful strategic planning and takes students through the process for developing actionable strategic goals and objectives to guide program development. The course identifies how successful organizations integrate strategic objectives as a guiding element of successful portfolio management and program planning processes, to ensure the alignment of programs and their component subprograms, projects and ongoing operations to meet internal and external stakeholder needs.

Performance Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Apply the strategic planning process to develop progressive, actionable strategic goals and objectives.
• Recognize and apply the portfolio management methodology to integrate strategic goals and objectives to guide the program development and planning process.
• Understand how to ensure the strategic alignment of future programs and their components (subprograms, projects and ongoing operations).
• Recognize how to test existing programs, subprograms and projects for alignment with an organization’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Develop and document a program business case and mandate that aligns with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Understand how to update an existing business portfolio with changes in the organization’s strategic goals and objectives, and develop recommendations for realignment of the organization’s existing programs.

Audience: Employees whose work involves the planning and management of programs, subprograms and projects