When creating a Strategic Plan, make sure to think about the relationships between the elements of the Plan and to create measureable goals with strong metrics to verify progress.

1. Strategic Plan Elements
Element Definition Key Questions Answered
Comprehensive Statement covering major Why do we exist? What is our purpose? For
functions and operations of the agency 1 whom are we here?
Inspirational, forward-thinking view of what What do we want to be in the future? What is
the organization wants to become our ideal state?
The top priorities, actions, that would What high level priorities can help us realize
Goal Goal Goal Goal achieve the vision our Vision and deliver against our Mission?
Performance Set of measurable, realistic outcomes that How can our goals be broken down in to
1,2,3
Objectives
%, #, 
Indicators collectively support goal attainment measurable outcomes?
Description of how the objectives are to be Which areas of focus can we identify within
How? What?
Strategies achieved, including resource requirements our Objectives to achieve measurement
When? Where?
targets?
Who?
Specific, justifiable projects that have direct What projects/activities support our
linkage to strategies, objectives and goals strategies in achieving measurement
Initiatives Initiatives targets?
1
Source: Government Performance Results Act
1

2. Strategic Plan Elements:
How They Relate
Strategic Specific
Performance Performance Performance Performance Performance
Mission Vision Goals &
Goals Measures Targets Output Results
Objectives
What are How does If we did How can How we Benchmarks Concrete The
we called our these things, we know verify that and results of achievement
to do? leadership we would that we are we are on milestones our efforts of what we
want to succeed in on the track that tell us set out to do
accomplish our Mission right how we are
our track? doing along
Mission? the way
Strategic Goals and Performance Metrics will always link back to the Mission:
How does the Goal help achieve the mission? What progress does this Metric reflect?
Promote Achieving Improve Reach _$ per ROI $ target Statistical Have we made
Examples:
integrity, excellence economy, $1 budgeted % Reports on # reports, data a difference?
account- through efficiency… key areas # areas
ability, independent, of DoD % of Recom-
improvement professional people, mendations Recom’s # Recom’s Actions
of DoD … oversight… programs, acted upon acted on
operations;
# cases Improved
Eliminate investigated Subpoenas, Subpoenas Better Company
F/W/A debarments validated cases actions 2