Inclusive Strategic Planning
QWE Practice Guideline: 440: Demonstrate the value of employees with disabilities
Target group: Any organization supporting and/or employing individuals with disabilities
Practice Description
Individuals with disabilities were included in the strategic planning process.
Resources Needed
Subject matter experts/trainers
- Trained meeting facilitators
Equipment
- Meeting space
Labor hours
- Time for staff to meet
Implementation
- Focus groups were conducted as part of the company’s strategic planning process
- Focus groups included employees, program participants, and external stakeholders with and without disabilities from each network location
- Groups usually consisted of 6-12 employees
- Facilitators were selected and assigned to each focus group
- Facilitators followed a written script to ensure each focus group was given the same set of questions
- Questions were categorized as follows:
- General
- Services provided to individuals with disabilities
- Employer of Choice (i.e., work culture)
- Answers from each focus group were submitted and the data was analyzed into a single report to be used at the strategic planning conference
- Action items from the focus group reports were identified at the strategic planning conference and communicated to the appropriate project managers
Outcomes
- 37 focus groups were held across multiple network locations
- 298 individuals participated in the focus groups: 147 program participants, 126 employees, and 25 external stakeholders
- Employee input was utilized to guide strategic planning for the agency creating employee buy-in
NPA: ServiceSource Location: Alexandria, VA Date Submitted: 2011 Website: https://www.servicesource.org/