ISM-NVA’s Strategic Plan
Mission and Vision
Vision
The Institute of Supply Management – Northern Virginia (ISM-NVA) will
be a progressive, not-for-profit organization that exists to educate,
develop, and advance the purchasing and supply management profession.
Led by an all volunteer Board of Directors, we will provide our fellow
members educational resources, professional networking opportunities,
and career management tools. Members of ISM-NVA will be recognized
as world-class professionals.
Mission
To educate, develop and advance the purchasing and supply management
profession, by providing opportunities to network, enhance professional
skills, and increase the knowledge of our membership
6 Key Imperatives of the Strategic Plan
As a professional organization, we must present ourselves in the manner in which we would like to be recognized. We must be
consistent in our presentation, execution, and product/program delivery to our members. To that end, our strategic plan will be
comprised of the following key imperatives that will establish a foundation for future success:
1)
Develop Framework for a Successful Organization
2)
Establish and Increase Membership Base
3)
Maximize educational opportunities
4)
Support networking opportunities
5)
Improve financial stability
6)
Leverage communication tools to maximize educational opportunities and increase membership
Strategic Plan Imperative #1:
Develop Framework for a Successful Organization
Key imperatives for this initial year will include developing the framework that will allow for long term
success. Therefore the following steps need to be accomplished:
•
•
•
Develop business plans including plans related to membership, marketing and communications, financial governance,
etc.
File all needed documents with ISM, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Federal Government
Develop organization support structure that includes representation across corporations that will reflect the diversity of
our membership
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsible
Target Date for
Completion
1
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
File all needed
documents with ISM
Make sure that all needed
documents are developed and are
filed with ISM
Irene Marnell
October 30, 2012
2
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
File all needed
documents with
Commonwealth of VA
File Articles of Incorporation with
VA
Irene Marnell
September 15, 2012
3
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
File all needed
documents with
Federal Government
File for tax exemption and EIN
with federal government
Irene Marnell
September 30, 2012
4
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
Develop
Organizational
Support Structure
Conduct elections for Board of
Directors
Stephen Guth
August 1, 2012
Strategic Plan Imperative #1:
Develop Framework for a Successful Organization
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsible
Target Date for
Completion
4
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
Develop Business
Plans
Oversight committee formation
Irene Marnell
October 30, 2012
5
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
Develop Business
Plans
Develop membership plan and
initiate recruitment actions within
that plan
Sarah Zhu
October 30, 2012
6
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
Develop Business
Plans
Develop financial framework,
including establishing banking,
financial tracking, and 3 year
projections,.
Steve Bailey
October 30, 2012
7
Develop Framework for
a Successful
Organization
Develop Business
Plans
Develop marketing and
communications plan and initiate
web sites and social media
Stephen Guth
August 1, 2012
Strategic Plan Imperative #2:
Membership
Growth Plan:
ISM-NVA’s primary focus is to grow membership with a goal of an increase from current 35 confirmed
members to 91 by the end of 2012 and an increase of additional 5 members per month in average for the
following two years. Recruiting new members becomes extremely critical to a new formed chapter. Our target
groups specifically are 1) those who currently work in the supply management field, 2) those with an interest
in supply management but who may not necessarily work directly in the field, 3) those who were members in
the past and let their membership lapse for various reason, 4) college students and 5) professors. During the
first month of the recruiting process, we discovered that some of the companies only allow their employees to
join one professional association; therefore, we believe that promoting the ISM brand as well as the benefits
of the membership from ISM and local chapter is the key to attract new members. The main actions identified
are as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Recruit at ISM conference and other functions (such as annual IFI Procurement Forum)
Direct contact with major corporations in VA area
Outreach to local colleges and universities
Seek online recruitment options through linkedin and other social media tools
Promote solid education program content with best-in-class guest speakers and offer opportunities for
involvement
Encourage board members and committee chairs to spread out, at least one to each table during monthly
meeting. Have them introduce themselves and engage the conversations with new members on ISM-NVA
activities and member benefits.
Provide trail membership option
Strategic Plan Imperative #2:
Membership
Retention Plan:
ISM-NVA’s goal is to ensure that our members’ expectations are met or exceeded. At the early stage of the
formation of the chapter, we determined ourselves to be a highly member-focused organization. We plan
not to lose any members for the first year and following two year with no more than 2% of members during
the membership renewal process. We determine to map out our strategies based on concentrating on the
following areas to achieve our objective:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Initiate and develop a new member welcome program, such as buddy program
Issue certificates of membership to all new members
Proactively communicate to members of upcoming local events and opportunities
Survey members for feedback on the current program offerings, future potential speaker topics, and
thoughts on how to better meet their professional development requirements.
Host prize for members who can bring in the most new members
Provide free trainings to members who are interested in pursuing supply management certifications
Initiate and develop member recognition programs. For example, offer as many volunteer opportunities
as possible and recognize their efforts at the end of fiscal year and service award
Strategic Plan Imperative #2:
Membership
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsibl
e
Target Date for
Completion
1
Membership
Recruitment
Develop and/or obtain information
materials for distribution
Sarah Zhu
August 30, 2012
2
Membership
Recruitment
Establish contacts with major
corporations in VA area and
colleges/universities
Sarah Zhu
On-going
3
Membership
Recruitment
Establish online recruitment options
through LinkedIn and other social
media tools
Sarah Zhu
On-going
4
Membership
Recruitment
Actively promote ISM at various
venues as opportunities are available
and target at least one major
corporation each quarter.
Sarah Zhu
On-going
5
Membership
Recruitment
Develop attractive membership fee
and promotion al incentives to join
ISM
Sarah Zhu
September 1, 2012
6
Membership
Retention
Initiate and develop a new member
welcome program, including
membership certificates, welcome
package, and establish a buddy
program
Sarah Zhu
December 31, 2012
Strategic Plan Imperative #2:
Membership
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsibl
e
Target Date for
Completion
7
Membership
Retention
Survey members for feedback on the
current program offerings, future potential
speaker topics, and thoughts on how to
better meet their professional
development requirements
Sarah Zhu
March 30, 2013
8
Membership
Recruitment
Host prize for members who can bring in
the most new members
Sarah Zhu
June 2013
9
Membership
Recruitment
Initiate and develop member recognition
programs.
Sarah Zhu
June 2013
Strategic Plan Imperative #3:
Maximize educational opportunities
One of ISM-NVA’s most important imperatives is to maximize the education opportunities provided to our membership.
We will take a multi-faceted approach to this that includes the following:
•
Support educational opportunities that fit the needs of our members by actively soliciting their input for training
requirements, including offering customer training to corporate groups.
•
Promote ISM certification training
•
Increase the awareness of other ISM forum group with available certification
•
Canvas hiring organizations to see what skills are needed for future advancement in their corporations
•
Compile certification study materials for member use
•
Conduct training through conferencing services in addition to traditional formats.
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsibl
e
Target Date for
Completion
1
Maximize educational
opportunities
Provide education that
fits the needs of our
members
Survey members for feedback on the
current program offerings, future potential
speaker topics, and thoughts on how to
better meet their professional
development requirements
Dale
Bartholomew
December 31, 2012 and ongoing
2
Maximize educational
opportunities
Promote ISM
certification training
and
Increase awareness of
ISM training and
certifications
Work with communication and marketing
to develop materials to promote
educational opportunities and certification
programs
Dale
Bartholomew
June 2013
3
Maximize educational
opportunities
Provide education that
fits the needs of our
members
Line up speakers and instructors several
months in advance that fit with the
educational needs of members, including
certification training. Work with the
Director of Programs to find venues that
suit the needs of our members
Dale
Bartholomew
June 2013
Strategic Plan Imperative #3:
Maximize educational opportunities
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsibl
e
Target Date for
Completion
1
Maximize educational
opportunities
Canvas hiring
organizations to see
what skills are needed
Develop list of hiring organizations to
determine what skills are needed. Develop
communications channels on-going
Dale
Bartholomew
December 31, 2012 and ongoing
2
Maximize educational
opportunities
Provide education that
fits the needs of our
members
Compile certification training materials
Dale
Bartholomew
October 15, 2012
3
Maximize educational
opportunities
Provide education that
fits the needs of our
members
Establish alternative training including
web-conference s
Dale
Bartholomew
March 2013
Strategic Plan Imperative #4:
Support networking opportunities
Supporting our members by providing networking opportunities that are both professionally beneficial and fun is one of the pillars of
what ISM-NVA wants to accomplish. Specifically we want to:

Increase the communications among professionals and students to promote to profession

Provide opportunities for “birds of a feather” groups to discuss current supply chain issues

Promote opportunities for members to be more accessible to hiring organizations

Set up mentoring programs for more junior members
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsibl
e
Target Date for
Completion
1
Support networking
opportunities
Increase
communications
Set up networking functions and social
events regularly
Judy Pines
“Speed Networking” –
October 30, 2012
Others ongoing at least one a
quarter
2
Support networking
opportunities
Provide “birds of a
feather” groups of
interest
Canvas members for areas of interest and
provide forums appropriately
Irene Marnell
June 2013
3
Support networking
opportunities
Promote opportunities
for members to be more
accessible to hiring
organizations
Establish contacts with staffing firms and
hiring managers and establish web and
social media links through LinkedIn,
Facebook, Twitter and include invitations
to hiring firms
Silva Gomez
June 2013
4
Set up mentoring
programs for more
junior members
Set up mentoring
programs
Set up mentoring programs one-on-one
with more junior members
Irene Marnell
March 2013
Strategic Plan Imperative #5:
Improve Financial Stability
We will not be able to accomplish our goals unless we establish financial stability. As a young organization, this can be challenging.
Our efforts will include:

Maintain sufficient revenue stream to support educations programs

Maintain fiscal responsibility in managing our expenses

Maintain available funds for speakers, presenters, instructors
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsible
Target Date for
Completion
1
Improve Financial
Stability
Obtain and maintain
revenue
Set up dues structure that will be
attractive to new members and actively
promote new members
Sarah Zhu
Structure by Oct 1, 2012
Other efforts ongoing (see
membership)
2
Improve Financial
Stability
Obtain and maintain
revenue
Develop committee to be responsible for
on-going opportunities such as 50/50’s
Irene Marnell
On-going
3
Improve Financial
Stability
Manage expenses
Develop budgets and points of control.
Steve Bailey
October 1, 2012
4
Improve Financial
Stability
Manage expenses
Review financials monthly with board to
assure compliance with budgets
Steve Bailey
On-going
Improve Financial
Stability
Maintain funds for
speakers
Generate structure for charges for events
attended by non-members, and maintain
budget controls
Steve Bailey
On-going
Strategic Plan Imperative #6:
Leverage communication tools
Communications and especially reaching younger professionals will be important to maintain the levels of interest of members. To do this
we will examine the following opportunities and avenues for effective communications:

Website

Social Media

Flyers – Dinner Meetings, Special Events, Seminars, Training

Newsletters – Presidential Quarterly Letter

Electronic notifications

Conferencing services
Imperative
Goal
Action to Support the Goal
Responsible
Target Date for
Completion
1
Leverage
communication tools
Establish and maintain
communications
Establish and maintain website
Director of
Marketing and
Communications
Establish website – Sept 1,
2012
Maintain website ongoing
2
Leverage
communication tools
Establish and maintain
communications
Establish marketing plan for on-going
events
Director of
Marketing and
Communications
Develop plan – Nov 15,
2012
3
Leverage
communication tools
Establish and maintain
communications
Establish social media sites
Director of
Marketing and
Communications
Establish social media
avenues – Sept 1, 2012
4
Leverage
communication tools
Establish and maintain
communications
Establish avenue for conferencing and
webinars.
Director of
Marketing and
Communications
Conferencing – Sept 1,
2012
Webinars – Jan 31, 2013
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
Clean slate approach – open to new ideas
Newness
Focus on Member Needs
Visibility of ISM-NVA to potential corporate members
Affordability of dues and educational information
Support of ISM – Chapter Relations
Strong relationships with other organizations (APICS, NCMA, etc.)
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
Provide focused training opportunities for members
Competition for membership
Collaboration with other organizations (APICS, NCMA, etc.)
Low cost education channels (i.e. webinars)
Flexible locations
Hesitation of potential members to change affiliation
Greater networking and social events