Forward Planning

The hallmark of an efficient and effective organisation

and a requirement for Accreditation

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Accreditation 2011A national standard for museums

Performance - an authoritative benchmark for assessing performance, rewarding achievement and driving improvement.

Planning - it formalises procedures and policies.

Profile – it builds confidence and credibility within the governing body and among the public.

People – it improves museums’ focus on meeting users' needs and on developing their workforce.

Patronage - it strengthens applications for public and private funding and gives investors confidence in the organisation.

Partnerships – it encourages joint working within and between organisations.

Accreditation 2011

1. Organisational healthAccredited Museums are responsible, responsive and resilient

2. Collections careAccredited museums effectively manage and make available

collections for everyone

3. Users and their experiencesAccredited museums are welcoming, and accessible and have a

planned approach to identifying and providing a good quality service for a broad range of users, bringing people and collections together

Accreditation 2011 and Forward PlanningA commitment to forward planning is an eligibility criteria

At the point of assessment the forward plan must cover the museum’s current and subsequent planning year.

The statement of purpose and key aims must be formally approved by the governing body.

Museums with a Mentor: The Forward Plan is the focus of an annual review between the museum and its mentor.

Every museum’s triennial Accreditation review will have to report against the objectives it set in its Forward Plan.

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The purpose and benefits of Forward Planning• To set goals and a strategy for reaching them

• To use your resources effectively

• To tell others what your museum is doing

• To provide a framework for measuring success

• Taking an in depth look at the museum’s operation, vision, aims & objectives is empowering

• Taking part in research and consultation creates ownership and commitment

• Done inclusively it raises staff performance and makes the acceptance of change smoother

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So…Ensure your forward plan is a robust document

• Take time to draw it up

• Analyse your museum’s operating environment thoroughly

• Consult to achieve consensus

• Tie everything back to the Statement of Purpose

• Take the steps set out in the SW Federation’s Forward Planning toolkit – www.swfed.org.uk/resources

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13 steps to a forward plan - 1Step 1 – Select your teamDetermine who is involved in drawing up the plan

Step 2 – Draw up a statement of consultationMake the planning process transparent and inclusive

Step 3 – Agree a statement of PurposeDefine your museum’s purpose, values and audience

Step 4 – Carry out researchUnderstand your museum’s past performance, operating

environment and resources

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13 steps to a forward plan - 2

Step 5 – Agree a visionAchieve consensus on the direction of travel

Step 6 – Establish Key AimsTo achieve the improvements and developments you are

seeking

Step 7 – Set specific objectivesTurn your vision and Key Aims into successful action

Step 8 – Draw up an action planSet priorities and determine the allocation of resources

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13 steps to a forward plan - 3

Step 9 – Draw up a resource planSet indicative revenue and capital expenditure and

workforce requirements to deliver the plan

Step 10 – Write the planBring together the information gathered and decisions

made

Step 11 – Approve the planDemonstrate the governing body’s endorsement of the plan

Step 12 – Publish the planShare your vision, develop ownership

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13 steps to a forward plan - 4

Step 13 – Use the planManage developments and resources effectively to achieve

the objects of your museum

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This presentation is based on information and content devised by Vicky Dawson and used in the workshops Planning for the Future – easy steps to a forward plan run as part of the South West Museums Skills Programme 2011/2012.

The programme was run by the South Western Federation of Museums and Art Galleries for Renaissance South West.

The presentation draws on the publications and guidance on Accreditation produced by Arts Council England – www.artscouncil.org.uk