District and Technology Plans

In my EDL 680 course, which is Introduction to Enterprise Architecture, we are wrapping up the course and reading several pieces of information and research on enterprise architecture and frameworks.  As the course winds down, it is time to reflect on the various types of plans an organization has, and whether they should be separate or inclusive of one another.

​Typically an organization is going to have its educational plan, along with a technology plan.  They may also have a strategic plan, and for those school districts in California, we also have our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  We simply like to plan.  But to what end?  And are each of these different?

When I became the President & CEO of Academy of Arts and Sciences in the spring of 2016, I was committed to creating a strategic plan for the organization.  In addition to this plan, we would work on our LCAPs and lay the groundwork for our WASC three-year study (another plan really).  After some reflection, I nixed the idea of a strategic plan ... it is basically the same as the LCAP, and if there were any missing pieces, it would be easy enough to add them in.

My thinking is evolving on this concept of a plan.  I still love planning, and having a road map to follow.  I do not love separate maps however.  All of these plans can be, and actually should be, consolidated into one master plan.  This will ensure the entire organization is on the same page, and that we properly deploy our resources: time, talent and treasure.  This gives us the big picture of where we are going, the resources that are needed to get there, and the inputs and outputs to measure success.

It is time to develop one plan, ensure the organization is on the same page, and start advancing together towards the future.