In order to evaluate the organization and its effectiveness, there are eight elements of review. These can be performed in total for a comprehensive review or in any combination to best fit the organization’s needs.
Program of Work – Is there a strategic plan in place? Is there a long- and short-term program of work to accomplish the focus areas to include Goals, Objectives and Strategies? What is missing?
Organization and staffing – Does your organizational chart address the goals and strategies of your organization? Is your current staffing of sufficient quantity and quality to address and carry out your strategic program of work and activities? Have you conducted a skills inventory to identify individual and group effectiveness in a variety of skill sets in order to have a successful organization, to identify gaps and to uncover hidden skills and interests of staff?
Marketing/Promotion, Activities and Results – Is your organization affectively marketing externally and internally? Are your marketing efforts effective and providing a return on your investment? Have you considered having a comprehensive review of your marketing program, “what you are selling and the results from those efforts?
Funding/Budget - Is there sufficient financial resources dedicated to properly implement the Economic Development program and to ensure that new critical initiatives are funded? How are you perceived by those individuals and organizations you partner with? How can you expand and improve on those critical relationships?
Partnerships/Allies - Who is the client partnering with to generate leads and projects and are these relationships in proper balance? How are you perceived by those individuals and organizations you partner with? How can you expand and improve on those critical relationships?
Benchmarking - How does the organizational and Economic Development efforts “fit” and compare within the region and with successful programs outside of the region? What are some of the “best practices” your organization might adopt to improve your programs?
Policies Review – Do you have written enforceable internal policies in place to ensure fair and consistent office procedures are being followed by staff? Are your policies sufficient to operate an effective organization?
Board Understanding of Economic Development – Does your board understand the basic elements of the economic development process, budget requirements to carry out programs and what their role is as a board member? What are the gaps in their knowledge and what information is needed to have a more supportive board?
SHEDC partners have all dealt with these questions in running their own local, regional and state economic development organizations. And in many years of consulting we have dealt with these questions on behalf of our clients. SHEDC can guide your leadership in a thoughtful process to reach conclusions as to these matters and to achieve higher levels of success.
Example Clients include:
