[Durham INC] Durham Releases Strategic Plan Summary Results

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov <mailto:Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov> 

 

For Immediate Release:  February 12, 2010

 

Durham Releases Summary Results for First-Ever Strategic Plan

Results to be Used as Springboard in Crafting Draft Strategic Plan;
Complete Survey Results 

Now Available on New Strategic Plan Web Page 

 

DURHAM, N.C. - The City of Durham is one step closer to developing its
first-ever Strategic Plan, releasing the summary results today at the
City Council's annual budget retreat of its months-long assessment of
the organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges
(SWOC).

 

The assessment, which began in November 2009, helps lay the foundation
for a planning process that will result in a strategic business plan for
the City.  The SWOC entailed obtaining information on the internal
operations of the organization, the external environment in which the
organization is currently operating, and how that external environment
is expected to change in the future.  

 

To obtain this insight, City of Durham staff conducted a series of
forums and surveys with City Council; department directors and
employees; City Board, Commission, and Committee members; Durham
citizens; and community partners.

 

According to City Manager Tom Bonfield, completion of the first phase in
this process is critical since the information, as well as other input
collected from City Council members, residents, and City staff, will
form the springboard for crafting Durham's first-ever Strategic Plan.
"In order to achieve consistent and planned results, it is essential
that all organizational efforts are pointed in the same direction.
During the strategic planning process, the City's key priorities will be
determined and the plan will serve as the framework for accomplishing
these priorities," Bonfield said.  "To ensure success, the organization
will integrate the plan into annual budgets and daily operations, and
stay on track with sound measurements of progress."

 

According to the summary report, some of the top strengths identified in
the survey include dedicated employees; good customer service; and the
current organizational leadership.  The top weaknesses were poor
communication between organizational leadership and staff, as well as
between departments; and the need for staff to be more customer-focused.
Top opportunities identified were downtown's revitalization; cultural
diversity; a desirable geographic location; an attractive area to live,
work, visit, and retire; and the opportunity for increased
accountability and transparency in City operations.  The top challenges
were poor reputation and media image; the current economy; and a failure
to develop or link transportation systems.  Finally, the top priorities
to be addressed were communication between organizational leadership and
staff; infrastructure and deferred maintenance on City streets; Durham's
youth; lack of accountability; and the Duke/Downtown/North Carolina
Central University transit connection.

 

The complete SWOC summary report, as well as additional information
about the planning process and project timeline, can now be found on the
new Strategic Plan Web page at www.durhamnc.gov/strategicplan.
According to Bonfield, keeping Durham residents informed on this process
is critical to the plan's success.  "Since this plan is going to change
the way we do business, as our customers, our residents are integral to
our success and we want them to be informed every step of the way."

 

This data will now be used by the Plan Development Team, which consists
of 10 department directors, to craft the goals, objectives, and measures
for the strategic plan draft. The draft plan will then be presented to
the City Council in June 2010, which will establish priorities and
objectives for the organization and define selected actions and
activities within the financial limits set by the City Council.  Once
the plan is approved by the Council, the FY 2011-2012 budget will be
developed based on these objectives and priorities. 

 

"Ultimately, when this plan is complete, our leadership is going to be
able to better understand the environment  in which the organization
exists and establish a consensus on a shared vision for the
organization," Bonfield said.  "We're going to focus on the overall
mission of this organization during the strategic planning process and
implementation phase, and regularly report progress - both internally
with our employees and externally with our customers - the residents of
Durham."

 

To learn more, visit the City's Web site at 
www.durhamnc.gov/strategicplan <http://www.durhamnc.gov/strategicplan>
or contact Bertha Johnson, director for the City's Department of Budget
& Management Services, at (919) 560-4111, extension 20285 or via e-mail
at bertha.johnson at durhamnc.gov <mailto:bertha.johnson at durhamnc.gov> . 

 

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