The document outlines the steps of the Strategic Doing cycle which includes developing ideas of potential collaboration, exploring opportunities, choosing a focus, executing initiatives and measuring results, and aligning resources. It provides exercises for participants to engage in the Strategic Doing process by exploring strategic outcomes and collaborations, focusing on initiatives and setting SMART goals, and aligning resources and timeframes to strategic activities.

1. WIRED TDL Institute
March 17-18, 2008
TDL
Strategic Doing Pack
Ed Morrison
Purdue Center for Regional Development

2. The Strategic Doing cycle
Develop ideas about
what we can do
together
Explore
Evaluations Insights
Execute and Choose
measure Execute Focus what to
results do
Action Plans Initiatives
Align
Identify and align
resources to
specific initiatives
2

3. The Strategic Doing cycle
Develop ideas about
what we can do Exercise 1
together
Explore
Evaluations Insights
Execute and Choose
measure Execute Focus what to
results do
Action Plans Initiatives
Exercise 3 Align
Identify and align
resources to
Exercise 2
specific initiatives
2

4. Your table:______________
Workshop Exercise 1: Your name:______________
Your e-mail:______________
Explore
Strategic Outcome Strategic Collaborations
for TDL as an “innovation Describe at least three strategic partners
community” that can collaborate to accomplish this
Describe the outcome in three years outcome (list more on the back)
With our help, we envision TDL will .... 1
2
3
4
5
3

5. Strategic Outcomes Strategic Outcomes describe a desired state in
the future. Descriptions of the desired state
should include the idea of stretch, measurable
goals. What will TDL look like, feel like in 3 years?
What will people be doing? How will people be
connecting? How will TDL help transform
regions?
“A learning community” is not as good a strategic
outcome as “community that accelerates
innovation in TDL across regions.”
Strategic Strategic Collaboration describes the type of
Collaborations partnerships we need to achieve our Strategic
Outcomes. More specific descriptions will
provide clarity to “who should be at the table”.
4

6. The Strategic Doing cycle
Develop ideas about
what we can do Exercise 1
together
Explore
Evaluations Insights
Execute and Choose
measure Execute Focus what to
results do
Action Plans Initiatives
Exercise 3 Align
Identify and align
resources to
Exercise 2
specific initiatives
5

7. Your table:______________
Workshop Exercise 2: Your name:______________
Your e-mail:______________
Focus
TDL SMART Goals
Strategic Initiatives for TDL How should we measure our progress?
How will we know we will be successful?
To achieve our strategic outcomes, we will 1
(do what?)...
2
3
4
5
6

8. Strategic Activities Strategic Outcomes are just words until we
and Initiatives describe what we will actually do to achieve our
outcomes. Strategic activities and initiatives (or
projects) describe what we will do together.
We still need to be more specific though. We
need to mark the path forward with some
SMART goals -- or road markers.
SMART Goals SMART Goals are simple, measurable, aggressive,
relevant and time sensitive. They are milestones
to mark our path.
So a SMART Goal might be: By 2010, we will
expand our on-line professional support to XXX
members.
In this exercise, focus on what we need to
measure to keep us focused on our path
ahead.
7

9. The Strategic Doing cycle
Develop ideas about
what we can do Exercise 1
together
Explore
Evaluations Insights
Execute and Choose
measure Execute Focus what to
results do
Action Plans Initiatives
Exercise 3 Align
Identify and align
resources to
Exercise 2
specific initiatives
8

10. Your table:______________
Workshop Exercise 3: Your name:______________
Your e-mail:______________
Align
Our Strategic Outcome:
Time frame What Who
In the next 6
months
In the next 3
months
In the next 30
days
Next week
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