Plan on a page

How to develop an aligned strategy for your knowledge and library service.

What is strategy?

‘Strategy’ is a word which derives from the Ancient Greek, meaning ‘Generalship’: a leader on the field of battle is given the ultimate challenge of marshalling the resources at their control in the best way possible, to triumph over adversaries.

The analogy may now be less literal, but the notion of strategy still relates to the research, thinking and planning process which enables an individual, team, department, or organisation to use the resources they have available to create sustainable advantage and be successful in the markets or sectors they operate in (or could operate in).

Having a strategy for your services: why does it matter?

Creates a clear and succinct articulation of the value you provide.  It shows:

• how your services contribute to supporting the success of your Host organisation
• how you will evolve alongside them in the future
• where you will make a positive difference
• enables you to structure important conversations with your organisation and other partners

Helps make your case more persuasive and your life a bit easier; the foundation for compelling:

• business cases
• key presentations
• inductions
• networking
• recruiting senior knowledge and library service advocates
• building shared vision and aspiration for your team

Plan on a page modules and supporting materials

Recordings have been made of the Amanda Stearn Plan on a Page course which are freely available to NHS knowledge and library service staff. For ease of viewing the course was split into 5 modules which will walk you through building an aligned plan on a page for your service.

1. Introduction and background review exercises.
2. Shape of the strategy, vision and purpose.
3. Strategic priorities and strategies.
4. Operational tactics, enablers, metrics and alignment.
5. NHS knowledge and library services plan on a page, main exercise, hints and tips for leading strategy sessions with the team.

The modules and the supporting course materials are available on the NHS Knowledge for Healthcare Workspace on FutureNHS.

Additional resources

Knowledge for Healthcare: Mobilising evidence; sharing knowledge; improving outcomes

This strategy sets the direction for the development of NHS knowledge and library services in England. The priorities are to enable all NHS staff and learners to benefit equally from high-quality knowledge services and optimise the expertise of knowledge and library teams to inform decision making from board to ward, at the bedside and in community and primary care. 

NHS knowledge and library services policies

Policies relevant to NHS funded knowledge and library services.

Value Proposition: the Gift of Time

The Gift of Time report commissioned by Health Education England, identified key benefits delivered by knowledge and library services to the NHS.

Quality and Improvement Outcomes Framework

The focus of the six Outcomes is on library and knowledge service improvement.

Books

Management Basics for Information Professionals

This new fourth edition offers an updated, comprehensive examination of the myriad of basic skills effective library managers must exercise throughout their careers. Includes a chapter on vision, mission, and planning.

Strategic Planning for Academic Libraries: A step-by-step guide

No doubt about it: strategic planning is a serious commitment. But when carried out skillfully, thoughtfully, and with sensitivity to the impacts on all those involved, it’s an undertaking that can pay large dividends for the library and its users. A strong strategic plan gives shape and clarity to the library’s intentions and, when carefully written, can make a powerful case for the library’s indispensability to its sponsoring institution.

Websites

Mind Tools: Strategy

On this page, you’ll learn 126 strategy skills – techniques that help you understand your competitive environment; identify the options open to you; set strategic priorities; deliver your strategy; and work intelligently in areas like purchasing, marketing, operations, and manufacturing.

Strategic Planning for Libraries: Resources & Examples

Resources to plan and develop a successful strategic plan from the Massachusetts Library System (MLS).

Video

Your strategy needs a strategy

Is it possible to look ahead without stumbling over what’s in front of you? All too often companies spend precious time laying out long term strategic plans, only to discover that their maps are out of date in a month. Business strategy expert Martin Reeves offers a solution. He advocates transitioning from relying on a single “classical” approach to strategy and moving towards a more tailored approach to strategy and execution, selecting from 5 distinct patterns of success.