VISIONFORMULATION

SERIES: STEWARDSHIP

AIM: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF 2010

MESSAGE: RECASTING OUR VISION AND PLANNING FOR PROSPERITY IN THE YEAR 2010 & BEYOND.

TEXT: PROV 13:16

“A wise man thinks ahead, a fool doesn’t and even brags about it” (Proverbs 13:16)

We therefore need to put every necessary steps in place to ??? and fully exploit this word of blessing Year 2010 is our year of prosperity. Life will teach you that in order to prosper one must plan, work hard and work smart on a continuous basis. The days when men would just sail by in life with little effort, knowledge and still yet manage to gather a few things are long as gone. We now live in a world of cut completion where the future belongs to the visionary and hardworking. God’s word of blessing gives a child of God even greater liverage in the journey of late.

In this message we aim at putting certain tools into our hands to help you succeed, for that is what God intends for you.

 VISION IN LIFE

“Where there is no vision the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18)

Vision in life is so important so much so that it is cardinal determination factor as to whether one lives or dies. In other words life, any life was tailored to be vision serviced, maintained, and vision driven by God almighty. You cannot afford to live a vision less life - You need it to stay alive.

WHAT IS A VISION

A vision is general or broad yet precise challenging, inspiring and clear statement of promise that reflects an individual or an organizations ideals and clarify their direction and purpose. The vision describes what the entity or organization will look like in the future. It forms the framework for an entities general philosophy (the basis of the entities system of thought that defines its nature and structure), goals, strategies, ethical standards and performance criteria (standards on which ability or skill is judged)

Vision is more imaginary and so it requires or demands a visionary leader or group with the ability to think long term.

A VISION STATEMENT

“Write the vision (revelation) and make it plain (clear) on tablets so that a herald (the announcer who reads it) may run with it (proclaim it) Habakkuk 2:2. Never ever under estimate the power of the pen and lately mediate. Communism shook the world long after the man who initiated the idea was long dead and buried. Am Englishman has said; “If it was not written then it never happened”.

A vision must be put down in a short simple and clear writing to be read and understood by members of the entity for which it is meant for. It is a brief proclamation that conveys their dream for the future. This will help improve the organizations effectiveness (fruitfulness) productivity and impact in the intended direction. A vision motivates and guides everyone involved to work towards a certain goal.

VISION FORMULATION

The intelligent man is a always open to new ideas ( a wise man charges his mind) Proverbs 18:15.

Generally the devising or formulation of a vision may take the form of brainstorming, soliciting of comments, views, and compilation of the most important points. This will usually involves a decision making body, or a steering committee who will first draft its background and framework.

And thereafter circulate it widely amongst members, stake holders or even funders. A vision requires constant re-evaluation taking into account the environment.

MISSION

Proverbs 18:13 “What a shame yes how stupid to decide before knowing the facts” A mission statement is similar to a vision statement but more concrete and definitely more action oriented. It is a declaration of the organizations purpose, intention, plan, reason for an action or existence.

If defines,

i.             who are or our general identity

ii.           What we are doing or the issues we are addressing,

iii.         Be they socio-Economic, Humanitarian, political and so on. That is the challenges the entity intends to take on or solve. It states the groups goals or clear unchanging aims in a general sense.

iv.                 Why we are doing it. The philosophy, values, and the culture behind an organizations goals or approach to issues is critical because it is what makes an organization distinct or unique giving one the reason to belong to or support it. It is a core part of its survival.

An example is say; inadequate housing and a goal, like to provide a housing for every one” how be it in a broad and undetailed manner.

GENERAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES ABOUT MISSION STATEMENTS

Mission statement should be

i)  Concise or get its point across in one sentence.

ii) Outcome oriented, that is explain generally the important outcomes the organization is working to achieve.

iii) Inclusive, it should be broad enough not to limit the strategies or sectors that may become involved in the project.

STAKEHOLDERS ANALYSIS

This is the collection of information about clients and their needs which helps the decision makers clarify and define the organizations area of actions founders and staff. It is like a market research based on random sample that represents a variety of ages and economic backgrounds of the target group.

It looks at the clients reaction to an organizations performance, their response, feedback overall satisfaction. It is not an evaluation, which comes after the execution or fruit of a process.

A stakeholder is one who is by virtue of their position or relationship has a share or impact in an undertaking to a point where they must be taken into account in any transaction of the concerned entity.

 DIFFERENT WAYS OF STAKE HOLDER ANALYSIS

1.      Survey: As stakeholder questions say on their needs, demands, their evaluation of the organization’s programs and impact need to be asked.

2.      Conversation: Talk to people about their demands, perceptions and suggestion and document it.

3.      Personal impression – This is mainly applicable to people of familiar overall opinion or attitude. It is weaker because it also contains some elements of guess work.

GOALS

Goals are broad statements describing the desired long term impact of an organization. Goals therefore form the basis of decision making and priority setting. They provide the big picture perspective of what the organization wants to achieve.

Because of the broad perspective scope of a goal it is prudent not to have more than four for it to be achievable.

Example of a goal:

To identify, organize, and train local health professionals and lay people to respond to local emergencies.

OBJECTIVES

Objectives define how much will be accomplished and by when. They state specific measurable results for the initiatives broad goals and therefore come after the mission statement because they specifically focus on achieving that mission.

THREE CRITERIAS OR BASIC TYPES OF OBJECTIVES

1.      BEHAVIOUR OBJECTIVE

This aims at changing the behaviors of people: what they are doing or saying and the products or results or their behavior.

2.      COMMMUNITY OBJECTIVE

These are the behavior objectives above save for the fact that they focus on the community level instead of individual level.

3.      PROCESS OBJECTIVES

These are objectives which refer to implementation or execution of activities necessary to achieve other core objectives.

STRATEGIES

“Any enterprise built by planning becomes strong through common sense and profit wonderfully by keeping abreast the facts” (Proverbs 24:3-4)

Strategies explain how the initiative will reach its objectives. It is of wide variety and includes people from different parts or sectors of the concerned entity like the use of artists to create awareness on a particular disease and thus help to combat it. Strategies help us market our products with ease.

                                            

FIVE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO HELP GUIDE MOST INTERVENTIONS

1.      Provide information and enhance skills. After the 2007/ 2008 post elections violence many organizations trained leaders i conflict management to check and eliminate the level of intertribal animosity and other correspond vices which were prevalent countrywide then.

2.      Enhance services and support, say by providing mentorship to a high risk youth group.

3.      Modify access, barriers, and opportunities, say by offering scholarship to mitigate the issue of financial changes to deserving students in students.

4.      Change the consequences of effort. Offer food for work to get people to love farming and so ultimately feed themselves.

5.      Modify policies Allow breastfeeding mothers to have a kindergarten facility at the work place so that they can occasionally attend to their babies. This will enhance the spirit of good will towards the employer and ultimately raise productivity.