Our strategic planning incorporates five specific performance elements -- team, service, quality, finance and market -- with key performance metrics and goals identified over the planning period that allow us to measure our success and/or adjust our tactics for achieving success.

Our strategic plan is also centered around the mission, vision and values. Any organization that has reviewed the Lincoln or Baldridge criteria has their specific performance elements centered around pillars of success. These pillars must have mearsureable outcomes to define the success.

I find it interesting that Lincoln / Baldridge is now suggesting that organizations create their strategic plan for 10 years instead of 3-5. Yet, we re-evaluate our action plan and give updates to our BOD on a quarterly basis on how well we are implementing and completing the plan. All organizations must plan for their growth but I believe the key is for the organization to remain agile in reviewing and updating the plan. We have placed a hold on certain initiatives planned in our strategic plan based on information we have obtained. We have also stopped progress on some of the initiatives as more information comes to us. I don't believe that any one would argue that strategic planning for health care will be very challenging in th future. Staying on top of healthcare reform will take a great deal of time and planning. I agree with Richard that staying focused on the community we serve and adjusting our action plans based on their need will be a necessary requirement.

It is very interesting to read the above two comments.
I really liked the idea of measuring performance metrics, because - for strategic planning we over-focus on mssion, vision values which are so vast and at times difficult to translate into measurable metrics.
3-5 years of strategic planning, broken down into measurable performance metrics, as applicable ofcourse to the Organization's mission and also to the community health service needs.
Community feedback should also play an important part into it.