On Board With Strategic Planning

As I write this, the board of directors and management for Dawson Public Power District are meeting for the 2nd day in a strategic planning session. They are looking at various issues… an improved line and equipment maintenance program, rising cost of healthcare benefits, customer satisfaction, managing financial positions, communication (internal and external), as well as board governance issues.

The first big challenge is that a majority of our infrastructure is around 50 years old. The directors will be asking for an improved upgrade or rebuild program. This is causing the most concern because this will be a sizeable on-going expense that has no rate of return.

Although DPPD has used strategic planning in the past, goals were somewhat vague – such as “increase communication” or “use technology.” Now we’re using a new process to set more specific goals. No one goes unheard and the process to determine priorities allows us to reach concensus quickly. Once those points are agreed upon, the management team will put their collective heads together and develop plans to reach the goals. The goals will be short term and long term ones.

The directors are engaged in difficult decisions but knowing that full agreement behind the issue allows all of us to sail in the same ship going the same direction. After the goals are developed, we will publish them in the Dawson Dynamo.