NCJ Number
175014
Journal
Corrections Management Quarterly Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 1998 Pages: 23-27
Date Published
1998
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the approach, structure, vision- oriented planning process, and outcome of the North Carolina Corrections Futures Project.
Abstract
In 1996 leaders in North Carolina's Department of Correction decided to take a proactive step toward defining the agency's future role and priorities. They hired staff (a director, two planners, and a statistician) and challenged them to develop a strategy for guiding the department into the 21st century. The goals of the Corrections Futures Project are to develop a strategic plan to guide the department into the next century and to institutionalize planning within the department by building an internal capacity for team problem-solving and practice management. With these goals in mind, project staff created a process for "vision-oriented strategic planning," which combines elements of systems thinking and the learning organization, organizational development and team building, and strategic planning and futures planning. "Vision-oriented strategic planning" combines futures planning and strategic planning by incorporating aspects of both. It includes the "comprehensiveness, prescription, and control" of strategic planning and the thinking process of futures planning. Staff recommended three participant structures for the project, organized in a set of three concentric circles. The innermost circle is the Corrections Futures Steering Committee, the second circle is four regional strategic planning teams, and the third circle is the external stakeholders. The draft strategic development plan created for the year 2020 includes the following strategic issues: proactive leadership by justice agencies at all governmental levels, development and training of employees for personal and professional growth, delivery of effective services that use advanced technologies and research, cost-efficient management of resources, and communication with and accountability to stakeholders. 15 references