Strategic planning 

GCMRC

Jeff Lovich
Strategy is important be

• If you don't know where your bus

going, any road will get you there

• Strategy without tactics is the slo

to victory. Tactics without strategnoise before defeat. (Sun Tzu) 
GCMRC is a well-integrated research and monitor

state-of-the-art information on the effects of Glen operations on natural and cultural resources in thEcosystem. Much of our research is done with ouinterdisciplinary framework. Results, databases, ainformation are published and disseminated in reaweb site, scientific journals and other USGS prodproduce a State of the Colorado River Ecosystem by resource managers as the undisputed source oinformation on the topic. Our science is in synch wour stakeholders who come to us as the acknowlethe Grand Canyon Ecosystem. The stakeholders vprovide us with increased funding through their aUSGS budget process via lobbying. GCMRC is nainternationally recognized for the quality of our wregularly consulted as the model for adaptive manclient satisfaction. Several employees are recipienDepartment-level awards. Employee satisfaction ithe envy of the USGS as a place to work. 
Strategic vs. operationa

• Strategic plan

-

visionary

-

conceptual

-

directional

-

short 

• Operat

-

shorte

-

tactica

-

focuse

- implem-

measu

-

detaile

*or implementation
Strategic plan shou

• Serve as a framework for decisio

securing support. 

• Provide a basis for more detailed • Explain the business to others in 

inform, motivate & involve

• Assist benchmarking & performa

monitoring

• Clarify existing strategies • Stimulate change and become bu

for next plan
Strategic planni

• Strategic Goal -- broad statement of what the instit

Example: To conduct research and monitoring in sinformation needs of the GCDAMP.

• Strategic Objective -- More specific statement of ho

accomplished.Example: Plan and implement a research and moniassists in the recovery of the humpback chub by refrom introduced species.

• Benchmark -- a statement of how attainment of the 

measured; the benchmark specifies the criterion foExample: By the year 2007 predatory fish populatioconfluence will be reduced to 10% of pre-removal ltests of HBC recruitment and survival estimates wi
History

• Last approved plan 1998-200• Revised plan 2000-2004
Proposed monitoring 

science program

• Conceptual modeling and sy

existing knowledge

• Physical resource program• Cultural resource program• Biological resource program• Socioeconomic program• Information technology prog• Contingency planning
Phase 1

• Development of conceptual e

models, synthesis of existing knowledge, and determinatioattributes associating resourto dam operations. FY97-99
Phase 2

• Definition of integrated impa

attributes within a resource sacross all resources. FY98-c
Phase 3

• Development of decision sup

guidelines and models to assmanagers and interested stato understand resource interimpacts of dam operations oresources and procedures fomitigating impacts. FY00, 01-
2nd Strategic Pla

• Not visionary• Not short• Too complicated• Contains redundant informat• Reiteration of old plan in man• Does not reflect our new org
GCMRC strategic p

underpinnings

1) Science

- Objective-

Non-advocacy

-

Relevant

2) Responsive to AMP Strateg

- P

rin

ciple

s

- Goals- M

O’s

- I

N’s
What are the major is

• Core monitoring• Long-term experimental plan• TCD• Drought• Global change• Compliance monitoring• Invasive species