1. Purpose
- Goal: Identify the “load-bearing beams” → the critical few priorities to build the plan around.
Ties back to the 4 core elements of strategy:
- Where are we now? Where are we going? What’s our environment? How will we get there?
2. Inputs for Priorities - Draw from:
- Envisioned future (SMART goals).
- Context analysis (e.g., SWOT).
- Generate a long list of possible focus areas → then narrow to 3–5 critical priorities.
- Examples: fundraising, curriculum, new audiences, capacity-building.
3. The “One Big Thing”
- Sometimes there’s one short-term, high-priority focus (e.g., next 6 months).
- Helps align the whole organisation for integrated progress.
4. Prioritisation Matrix (2x2 grid) - Dimensions:
- Impact (low → high contribution to mission).
- Ease/Cost/Risk of Implementation (straightforward → Herculean).
Quadrants:
- SE quadrant (High Impact / Easier to Execute): top priorities.
- High Impact / Hard to Execute: invest now; may take multiple cycles.
- Modest Impact / Easy: opportunistic wins; can build momentum.
- Hard / Low Impact: avoid (often wasted effort).
5. Guidelines for Strategic Priorities
- Keep the list short → 3–5 main priorities.
- If possible, identify one big clarifying focus.
- Stay flexible → adjust as context shifts; celebrate wins and move on.
- Learn to say no (or not yet) to non-critical areas.
- Don’t ignore basic operations; strategy builds on top of day-to-day essentials.
6. Next Step
- Turn identified priorities into concrete, actionable parts of the strategic plan.