Ideally, information professionals will be involved in the strategic planning process for the entire organization. The process is most straightforward if it is a top-down initiative, with detailed instructions provided to each business unit about how the strategic plan is to be completed so that there is consistency in the vision and objectives. Input from all business units should then fit into an umbrella plan developed by the executive team. In this scenario, information professionals will provide background information on what is happening in the industry and markets served by the organization and help formulate plans for providing timely, actionable information to the organization on an ongoing basis.
If a company does not have a formal strategic planning process, information professionals should still develop a strategic plan to conceptualize and guide how information services will be delivered in the present and the future in their organizations. The plan should then be widely disseminated so that a clear understanding of the strategic direction of the information center is established throughout the organization.
SLA's recently revised professional competencies note that the information professional "aligns the information organization with, and is supportive of, the strategic directions of the parent organization or of key client groups through partnerships with key stakeholders and suppliers." Today's most successful information centers are those that have assumed responsibility for making sure their goals and initiatives are aligned with those of the parent organization.
ALIGNING THE INFORMATION FUNCTION WITH ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
Creating a Strategic Plan?FAQ
What is the benefit to having a strategic plan?
...