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Strategic Planning

• What is it?

• Systematic planning process• Identifies mission, vision, goals• Acknowledges strengths and weaknesses• Analyzes threats and opportunities• Provides structure for organizational operations• Sets direction for several years’ of substantive work• Facilitates budgeting and human capital planning

2

Strategic Planning at GAO

• First strategic plan prepared in 2000

• Updates: June 2002, March 2004, March 2007

• Current 2010-2015 plan issued July 2010

• GPRA amendments of 2011 change cycle to 4 years (vs. 3)

3

Strategic Planning at GAO

Strategic Planfor Serving the Congress and the

American People

Annual Performance Budget

Risk-Based Engagement

Management Process

Resource Planning

Align Organizational Structure

Annual Performance & Accountability Reports

4

Strategic Planning at GAO

• Involves many stakeholders, both internal and external• Project leaders report to GAO’s Executive Committee • Begins with formal discussions on expectations• Environmental scan performed early in the process• Draft the plan with team input• Obtain reviews and approvals• Congressional and stakeholder comments• Publish the plan• Align accounting and activity codes with new goals• Monitor plan performance

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Strategic Planning

ExternalScan

Develop/ Revise

• Mission

• Values

• Goals

Develop/ Revise

• Trends

• Strategic Objectives

• Performance Goals

• Key Efforts

Internal Review

and Agreement

Consult

• Congress• Key Stakeholders

DevelopAgreement

PublishPlan

PublishPlan

InternalScan

ClientScan

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Environmental Scan

• Identifies emerging issues and trends

• External scan sources include

• Special studies

• Speaker series

• Advisory boards

• External partners

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Environmental Scan

• Internal scan assesses internal capacities: human capital, processes, technology, environment

• Sources• Employee feedback

• Skills inventory

• Internal customer surveys

• Special projects

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Eight trends will shape GAO’s work

1. Evolving National security Threats2. Fiscal Sustainability Challenges3. Economic Recovery and Growth4. Global Interdependence and Shifts in Power5. Scientific and Technological Advances6. Virtualization7. Shifting Demands on Government8. Demographic and Societal Change

e.g., Rising poverty and pressing issues among children and young adults join aging and increasing diversity as key societal trends affecting demand for government services.

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• Both managers and staff develop and update plan

• Senior managers — Overall mission, core values, and strategic goals and objectives

• Team/office managers and staff — Specific performance goals and key efforts

Drafting the Plan

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GAO’s Strategic Planning Hierarchy

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Review, Approval, and Publication

• Draft plan reviewed internally by Executive Committee and team and office heads

• Approved draft electronically sent to major stakeholders (such as Congressional committees and CGAB) for comment

• Final strategic plan consists of one document• Acting CG’s transmittal letter serves as the de facto summary• Discussion of 8 trends relates GAO work to broader context• Body captures planned work on fiscal crisis, economic

recovery, financial and health care reform, etc.• Published copies sent to top managers, GAO’s appropriations and

oversight committees, external partners

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GAO Performance Measurement Strategy

Nonfinancial benefits

Nonfinancial benefits

Financial benefitsFinancial benefits

Leading, recognizing,

and listening to staff

Leading, recognizing,

and listening to staff

Attracting and retaining

staff

Attracting and retaining

staff

Getting workdone

Getting workdone

Quality of worklife

Quality of worklife

TestimoniesTestimonies

TimelinessTimelinessDeveloping, supporting,

and using staff

Developing, supporting,

and using staff

ClientClient PeoplePeople Internal OperationsInternal Operations Results Results

Past recommendations

implemented

Past recommendations

implemented

Products with recommendations

Products with recommendations

INTOSAI Organization ChartPre-2004

•INCOSAI

•Governing Board (18)

•Audit Standards

•Cmtee 1984

•International Institutions

2001

•Program Evaluation

1992

•Public Debt 1992 •Environment

•1992

•Internal Controls

•Cmtee 1984

•Secretariat •7 Regional Working Groups

•Privatization

•1992

•Journal •1974

•Accounting & Reporting

Cmtee•1984

•IDI •1986

•IT•1992

•International Money

Laundering 2001

•Strategic Planning

•2001

Consultation, Compromise, Consensus