The planning process is broken down into major stages to enable a
cohesive
approach to developing and resourcing business plans.
Assessing Customer Needs & Determining Our Financial Capacity
Establishing a Plan for Operations and Resources to Achieve Priorities
This stage is twofold. First, we will explore what we need to accomplish as determined by the needs of our customers. Everything we do should lead us towards meeting the needs of our customers, as depicted in the balanced scorecard. The steps in this stage will provide needed information to determine if we are heading in the right direction, or if we need to redirect our actions to fulfill the needs of our customers. Also during this stage, we will determine the fiscal capacity of the organization so future allocation decisions can be made in line with the county's desire to ensure the long-term fiscal stability of the organization. We will do analysis of the current economic conditions and trends, and identify any financial limitations that must be taken into consideration.
February: Administration/Support Services Directors meet with CoI Forums to tell the story of what has been accomplished to date with successes reported by:
February: Gather and Review of Customer Assessments Already Completed @ Quarterly Business Meetings
February 21: Report to BOC - Orientation to County Services
March 8: Report to BOC - History and Successes of Business Improvement Process (BIP)
January - March: Determine Financial Capacity of Organization
March: Report to BOC - State of County
Using the data gathered in the previous stage, we will now confirm the direction we need to be heading for the organization. Communities of Interest and Departments will need to ensure they are directing their operations and staff in the same direction as the organization as a whole. We do this through first establishing visions and next by setting specific goals for the next two years that will bring our vision closer to reality.
March: Administration/Support Services Directors meet with CoI Forums to discuss goals for their focus areas based on customer assessments
April: Department Head and Management Team Development of Departmental Vision, Goals, Program Outcomes and Contributions to Community of Interest Goals
April - June: Administration meets with CoI Leaders to Review BOC Presentations
April - June: Report to BOC - Customer Needs by Community of Interest
Now that we know what we want to accomplish within the next few years, we can begin to look at our operations and determine if they are still appropriate. We will do extensive analysis of data to determine the appropriate action steps and necessary resources that will lead us to successful implementation of our vision and goals.
May: Departmental Review @ Quarterly Business Meetings � determine impact on departmental operations due to any changes in mandates and efficiencies that have been or need to be realized; Departments Update Business Plans
May: Revenue Discussion & Base Budgets Hearings @ Quarterly Business Meetings � determine anticipated revenue from current operations and resources needed to maintain current operations (confirm inventory and replacement schedules for infrastructure and capital equipment; identify requested position modifications including reclassifications; identify requested adjustments to operating budgets).
May - June: Departmental Proposals for Operational Enhancements to Meet Customer Needs through IRA Requests
June - July: Administration/Support Services Directors meet with CoI Forums to discuss system impact of any proposed operational modifications. Identify the needed infrastructure for proposed operational modifications.
July: Develop infrastructure plan
July: Departments Review and determine alignment of Outside Agency Requests with County Goals/Customer Needs; Submits recommendations to Administration
August: Administration communicates recommended initiatives and resource allocations to departments and Outside Agencies
We will begin this final stage of the process by compiling all of the work we have done thus far into a recommended budget that Administration will present to the Board of Commissioners. The BOC will review this budget, request additional information, and adopt a final budget that incorporates any modifications they feel are appropriation to most effectively carry out the services of Washtenaw County and create community impact. Once a final budget is adopted, a summary document of the process and final product will be published and distributed to be used as a resource guide throughout the implementation of the budget during 2008/09.
July - August: Development of recommended budget
September - October: Ways & Means review recommended budget
September: Discussion of Recommended Budget @ DH/CMSG and LMT
September: Discussion of Recommended Budget @ Quarterly Business Meetings
November: BOC adopts budget with desired modifications
November - December: Discussion of Adopted Budget and Support Needed for Implementation @ Quarterly Business Meetings
January 1: Budget Summary Completed and Distributed - Published on eWashtenaw