Talk:Program Planning Guidelines

I'm not sure what exactly we should call this page. I think it's focussed on more than just hiring. Seems like it is a tool for helping us evaluate our options when considering program expansion. And to be really useful, we should collect some of this data on existing programs, as well. RfS

Program Planning Guidelines? -- MW 10:55, 22 Nov 2005 (PST)

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As planning documents, these sheets and guidelines could use some changes. The emphasis on hiring could be changed to a focus on the broader program needs by including a broader picture of labor, including volunteer labor, and the pros and cons of using volunteers in those particular ways. The sheets could also be improved by adding future-looking sections with titles like these below:

Recommendations -- (signed by individual authors, or with dates of working group and governance group meetings showing decisions and concerns) After describing the program's costs and benefits, this section would make recommendations concerning how to maximize the benefits and decrease the costs. For signatures examples: there may be a series of meetings through council, staff collective meetings, and through a number of working groups which come to a common agreement about the need for this new program (assuming current trends). This may be different than decisions to actually begin this program, so times and decisions of governance groups should be noted.

Next Steps --

Time lines of recommended actions --

Future alternatives -- alternatives methods of reaching goals when finding forks in the road. This section would have suggestions for the benefit of future decision makers. Future decision makers might want to know what was intended, and what they might do when they are faced by predictable "forks in the road." For example, if a spin-off project is recommended, we could predict it may eventually need to become its own business or non-profit. What can we offer, to help future decision makers with the questions? If evaluations show the program plan is not going well, under what circumstances do current planners believe future decision makers should abandon the program? For example, if procuring a new building is a goal based on current real estate and income trends, then include some information in this section about when getting smaller, or continuing to rent, might be preferable.