Models

Darvesh Karim

Assistant Instructor

Professional Development Center, North

University Road, Konodass, Gilgit.

Ph. No: (+92) 05811-454132-4 Ext: 3017

Fax No: (+92) 05811-454135

Cell No: (+92) 03465419307

Email (Official): darveshkarim@pdcn.edu.pk

Email (Private): dk_hunzai@yahoo.com, darvesh.karim@gmail.com

Online Blogs: www.dkhunza.blogspot.com; www.scribd.com/dk_hunzai

 

Model: Key Stages	Tools Used	Modifications / Possibilities
Planning for Planning Establish planning team Assess the readiness for planning.  Identify members involved at each planning stage; assign responsibilities, timeframe for planning justification for all these decisions. Where do we want to go? Visioning Where are we now? Situation Analysis: How to Get Vision?  Identify      Goals/ objectives Develop Plan Action planning  Develop monitoring plan Overall Plan: putting the pieces together Quality Audit	Identity stakeholders Checklist to assess Table: Who/When/Why   Identity characteristics of goal school. Collate together Vision statement Internal & External Environment Scan: SWOT / PESTE Ask team to individually write down and, then, prioritize Action Who When Justification Action What to monitor Who? When? Putting them together (combine action plan and monitoring plan)	1.  (a) Develop Mental picture of planning process; negotiate with senior management;     (b) Brainstorming stakeholders; prioritize the list 2.  (a) Semi structured interviews (b) Do some ‘activity’ to assess readiness e.g. seminar presentation/ workshop 3.  ‘How’, ‘what’ -  modified earlier; made more comprehensive – added more details of all planning stages 4.  Identify current trends in education; SWOT/PESTE Scenario planning; 5.  (a) What is your dream………………in the various domains/ areas specified (b) What are vision for all the various stakeholders – visual representation of tool

Expectation 1

(a)        You have been introduced to a number of models and variety of tools during this course.  Put them all in this section in an organized and retrievable manner.

I have furnished some of the models, tools and processes of strategic planning above. All these have been taken from the course book, internet and our own created tools and collage.

Expectation 2

(a)        What are the common elements/stages/processes in all models?

·         Motivation and encouragement to participate all stockholders (School management, teachers, parents, students and community etc. or simply there should be a state of readiness & establishing a planning team)

·         Environmental scanning (internal/external) to know the existing position of school and its surrounding to keep an eye on the transformational factors, and emerging trends. SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) analysis, PEST (Political, Educational, Socio-cultural, Technological), and SWOC (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & Challenges) analysis have been recommended.

·         Shared Vision practice.

·         Identification of goals (long and short term) and objectives.

·         Prioritising these goals.

·         Preparation of Action plan.

·         Strategic allocation of resources.

·         Preparation of monitoring plan.

·         Audit quality.

(b) What should be criteria for selecting any model for SDP?

SDP is a process of building a vision and bringing together the means to carry it out. It engage building consensus, establishing priorities, and creating a plan of action. To select any model for school development plan, I personally feel above characteristics should be kept in mind along with practically assess an organization's internal and external strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, examine an organization’s core competencies, principles, and values, concentrate on building consensus among all the stockholders. Johnson and Scholes Model is the most simple and effective model, fulfilling all these characteristics. This model is much integrated so that at every stage a cross check is possible keeping the changing trends. Its stages are integrated and the process has been identified keeping three aspect as NOW (the present situation) WHERE (the target or bench mark) and HOW to reach there. These three steps have been focused areas in all models and process because the results of this process improve effectively.

Expectation 3

(a)        From your stock of tools, you are required to choose 5 most comprehensive tools and identify different possible usages of those tools.

1.         SWOT Analysis – used to reduce a large quantity of situational factors into a more manageable profile. This tool can be used during the situational analysis process of School Development Plan. This tool can also be used to implement a new teaching strategy or introducing mentoring and peer coaching etc. in the school, which can identify different aspects of the school internally and externally.

2. PEST Analysis – This provides the context within which more detailed planning can take place to take full advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. This analysis can also be used to identify the affecting trends or factors in different sectors like political, Economical, Social and Technological. This tool can also be used during school development plan, specifically during situational analysis. Secondly this tool can also be beneficial to know the different perspectives about education from parents or the community members, as these members use to come from different backgrounds and expertise. So, if this tool is used, then different perspectives and school affecting factors will be identified, which can be helpful for future planning.

3.         Scenario Planning –

4.         Process-Based knowledge Mapping.

4. Appreciation-Extracting Maximum Information from Facts. (‘So what?’)

Expectation 4 (Option For Strategic Thinkers Only)

(a)        Do you consider the following activities as tools? Identify purposes and suggest modifications.

1.      Time Machine – It is a powerful tool to reflect on the past days.

2.         You are a dead person – envision what you want people attending your funeral to say - My exact learning in this regard I would rather refer the discussion form’s thread where Mr. Nawab Sadburg has very accurately responded my query that the activity to assume ourselves (myself) DEAD was a scaring and painful activity (for me - frankly to say). I couldn't figure out its relationship to the strategic planning. In my personal opinion, during this activity the situation came to a bit tense and all were not participating fully. Mr. Nawab responded that;

To your comment on the activity of assuming ourselves dead has three parts for me namely, its connection with strategic planning, the tense moment which it created, and the participation of our colleagues.

As for as its connection to strategic planning and thinking is concerned, to me this activity has a great relevancy with these concepts in many ways. Firstly, strategic thinking is looking forward or visualizing future and preparing ourselves and our institutions accordingly. In other words, future is certain and we have to enter it either willingly or unwillingly. The better way is to enter willingly. This willingness would be there if we have all the skills, capabilities and tools required to cope with the challenges of the day. Can a person be ready to die if he/she has nothing to take for judgment day? Not at all. So why not to prepare ourselves from today.

Secondly, leadership is supporting people in such a way that the services of the leader could be remembered for ever. A person standing near the coffin of Quaid Azam should have said that we have lost our great national hero. I don't know what would be the response of people standing near the coffin of any present Pakistani leaders. We have opted for leadership and school leadership is too complicated in the sense that it is a grooming platform for the coming generation who will rule our country. I don't know how do they remember us when, accidentally, anyone of them is near our coffin. Did it make some sense, Darvesh?

Though I have something to say about the remaining parts, I invite other colleagues to join this discussion and help the curious Darvesh in overcoming his confusions (confusion is the first step of learning). I leave the two parts (tense and participation) for my colleagues.

While commenting on the same our respected facilitators also mentioned that, controlling the future is not possible...but we may develop a better sense of control...we cannot control future....we can prepare for the uncertainties through prior planning....this may help us move towards a better future.. then the one we might have if we go unplanned...

Now, personally, I believe that this was not a waste but a unique chance to probe into a future scenario by reflecting our present so that our future would be better.

2.      ‘Why’ questioning

There is lots of thinking that never contributes to understanding and never throws light on issues of importance. That is because thinking can be done in an unquestioning manner. We must encourage others and ourselves to question and to learn, by reacting to probe into, on the statements by simply saying ‘so what?’ We can encourage all the stockholders to become ongoing questioners committed to practicing important questions until capable of making sense. This is of-course a fabulous tool to create thinking skills, because questioning is a possibly strong but often neglected component in school atmospheres.

3.      Metaphors and images

4.      Collage – it was also a way to look into the possible future and making proper preparation for those scenarios.

5. Scenario Planning

Scenario Planning or scenario thinking is a strategic planning method that institutions use to make long-term planning. When scenario planning is integrated with a systems thinking approach (the activity in groups we done in our class) to scenario development, it becomes a systematic collection of different minds.