Strategic Framework vs Strategic Plan

From time to time I get asked, “What is your strategic plan for Saline Area Schools?”  First, I respond with, “We don’t have a plan…. instead we have a framework.”  Using the term, “framework” to define the mission and direction for the Saline Area Schools gives me the opportunity to explain why a framework is more advantageous than a strategic plan in the current era of fast moving policy changes and technological advancements.  

A plan is defined as, “a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.”  In theory, a strategic plan is a good thing for organizations like school districts to have in place.  Research shows that employees want to feel like they know the direction in which they are headed,  and that a sense of purpose helps stakeholders feel connected to the greater cause.  Most schools work on three to five-year plan cycles.

A framework is defined as, “a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text.” The framework provides the structure within which an organization can operate. Research also shows that employees prefer some degree of autonomy in their work. With a strategic framework, teachers are afforded the autonomy to experiment creatively with a variety of instructional strategies and learning spaces. In the case of Saline Area Schools, the framework is reviewed and revised annually.

A strategic plan tends toward short-term, actionable tasks. A strategic framework, while focused, allows the flexibility to adapt to changing global trends, policy mandates, and marketplace needs.

We see the benefits of a framework vs. a plan as these:

• A framework is more flexible in adapting to marketplace changes.  Plans are often too rigid and precise to adapt quickly enough to meet emerging needs and shifts in policy.

• Frameworks provide clear guidance without being too prescriptive.  Plans can easily become too detailed to allow staff the autonomy to make their own decisions.

• Frameworks provide an umbrella for all organizational activities. Plans become so specific in some areas that staff do not see a connection to the greater outcomes.

• Frameworks are easily understood and communicated.  Plans can become lengthy and cumbersome.

Here is a link to the Saline Area Schools’ current Strategic Framework.  The original framework was adopted by the Board of Education in 2011 and has been reviewed and revised annually.