Another strategy is to use the blank-page approach. The association and its chapters must take inventory and analyze both external and internal forces affecting the organization. Both customers and the wider circle of stakeholders should be reviewed and involved in the process. Using the data obtained from all sources, the group can begin creating a vision for the association and its chapters. A strategic plan is useless unless action steps with deadlines are established.
Future success depends on detailed implementation of action plans.
A regular monitoring or reporting mechanism will keep each action plan and its major objective on track. An action plan needs to take into account each of these ingredients to increase the likelihood of success. The professional literature has begun to focus on the needs of stakeholders. The customers for most educational associations are commonly viewed as the professionals in the specific discipline area. However, progressive management practice suggests that associations should think beyond its previous definition of the customer.