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The strategic planning process is key in helping an organization develop a vision of where it will be in the future and determining the best ways to turn that vision into reality. This page includes articles, books, and other resources on all aspects of strategic planning, from beginning the process to monitoring its implementation after the plan has been worked out. Also included are the strategic plan of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and sample strategic plans from RARE, NAR's resource exchange for state and local REALTOR® associations.
NAR's Strategic Plan and Association Resources
NAR Strategic Plan: 2011-2013 (approved Nov. 2010)—A PDF version of NAR's full strategic plan can be found on this page.
AE Strategic Issues—Videos, eBooks, smartphone apps and other resources centered around the NAR Association Executive Committee's 2010 report The Future of Real Estate: Mobile, Social, Local.
Best Practices for REALTOR® Association Executives—A Special Report, (Association Executives Committee Best Practices Work Group, Feb. 2004).
REALTOR® Association Models Online Planning Tool—Use this online questionnaire to help assess your association's current situation and plans for the future.
REALTOR® Association Resource Exchange (RARE), (National Association of REALTORS®, Information Central)—Use the purple menu at the top to browse sample STRATEGIC PLANS from various REALTOR® organizations around the country.
Cycle of Change Report (2008)—The 2008 AEC Strategic Issues Work Group, facilitated by Jerry Matthews, CAE, Advisor, introduces the latest issues and trends report titled "Cycle of Change."
Strategic Planning: Getting Started
Scenario planning for economic recovery: Short-term decision making in a recession, (Strategy + Leadership, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2010). Q
Five questions to build a strategy, (Harvard Business Review Blogs, May 26, 2010).
The do's and don'ts of strategic planning, (SuperVision, Dec. 2008). Q
How to do strategic planning in 15 hours or less, (Nonprofit World, Sept.-Oct. 2008). Q
The rights and wrongs of strategic planning, (Security, July 2008). Q
Strategy management for associations: From issues to action, (Journal of Association Leadership, Fall 2006).
Success planning: Create your best strategic plan, (REALTOR® Association Executive, Fall 2004).
Strategy Planning Handbook, (Special Libraries Association, 2001).
Strategic planning: A ten-step guide, (The World Bank, July 2001).
A beginner's guide to strategic planning, (The Futurist, Apr. 1998). Q
Filling in the Details
Drucker's strategic thinking process: Three key techniques, (Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 38, No. 3, 2010). Q
Four fatal flaws of strategic planning, (Harvard Business Review Blogs, Mar. 13, 2009).
Formulating effective strategies, (Association Magazine, Aug./Sept. 2008).
The Perils of Strategic Planning: In a word, strategic planning stinks. Oh, it might do some good for some people, but all in all, the idea should be scrapped in favor of business practices that embrace flexibility, (Associations Now, Aug. 2008).
The Next Traditions of Associations 3.0: The next generation of association leadership is starting to take shape—Associations 3.0—but the traditions that got us this far can’t take us to the next level, (Associations Now, Mar. 2008).
Needed: A better grasp of strategic planning: Answer these questions to create a strategic plan that'll make your vision a reality, (Nonprofit World, Sept./Oct. 2006). Q
Building strategic capacity by design: Strategic planning can't begin and end with a static document. It has to bend and flex with the forces that shape the future, (Executive Update, May 2005).
Four steps to better goal setting, (REALTOR® Association Executive, Fall 2004).
What To Do When the Plan Is Done
Three simple steps to activate your strategic plan, (Nonprofit World, Sept./Oct. 2008). Q
Keys to successful strategy implementation, (Association Magazine, Feb./Mar. 2008).
Creating line of sight between employees and strategy, (Strategic Communication Management, Dec. 2006/Jan. 2007). Q
Monitoring return on strategy, (Association Management, Oct. 2004). Q
Translating strategy into effective implementation: Dispelling the myths and highlighting what works, (Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2003). Q
President's Podcast: Strategic Planning for Associations
Plan for a successful 2009 with these important tips! For association leaders, 2008 NAR President Dick Gaylord joins California Association of REALTORS® EVP Joel Singer to get advice on how a strategic plan can better serve their members.
Strategic Planning Websites
Association for Strategic Planning - Professional organization for those involved in strategic planning processes. Includes book reviews, website links, etc.
PlanOnline.org, (Center for Strategic Planning)—Articles, tips, resources, and sample strategic plans for small businesses and organizations.
Strategic Planning (in nonprofit or for-profit organizations), (Free Management Library)—Step-by-step guide to all aspects of creating and implementing a strategic plan.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Breakthrough Thinking for Nonprofit Organizations: Creative Strategies for Extraordinary Results (Kindle, Adobe eReader)
Creating and Implementing Your Strategic Plan: A Workbook for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (Kindle, Adobe eReader)
The Manager's Guide to Strategy (Adobe eReader)
Strategic Planning for Dummies (Kindle, Adobe eBook)
Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook (Adobe eReader)
Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement (Kindle, Adobe eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Financial and strategic management for nonprofit organizations, (San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2000). HF 294 B84
Strategic Planning for Association Executives, (Washington, DC: American Society of Association Executives, 1997). HF 294 Am3st
Strategic Planning and the Nonprofit Board, (Washington, DC: National Center for Nonprofit Boards, 1990). HF 294 N21
Strategic Planning: A Step-by-Step Manual, (Chicago, IL: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 1985). HF 296 N21sp
Field Guides & More
These field guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Association Budgets & Reserves
Field Guide to Communication for Associations
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The inclusion of links on this field guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this field guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.