the asa's strategy 2009-13: Latest Updates
Strategy Update 10 March 2009
The 09-13 Strategy is nearing publication. As we speak, we have just had the proof-read version returned and are doing last minute checks before sending it to the printers.
The draft Strategy was discussed in detail at a two day meeting of National and Regional officers on 13/14th January. This gave all concerned the opportunity for a detailed review. In fact quite a few changes were made and it was decided to significantly reduce the number of KPI’s. Headline KPI’s remain for each theme. The more detailed, operational, KPI’s were “dropped down” into Regional Operational plans. This version was then presented to ASA Board on 6th February where it was adopted for publication.
We now need to consider how we launch the Strategy, both at a National and Regional level. Sharon Rose will be considering how we will do this and if you wish to launch the Strategy within your Region/discipline/department etc, both internally and externally please email sharon.rose@swimming.org
We now move into the vital stage of ensuring delivery of the Strategy. Regions, Departments and Disciplines are currently developing Operational plans that will incorporate the KPI’s of the Strategy. These will need to be discussed by staff and adopted into individual work programmes. Michael Hunt, the North West Regional Director is currently leading on the development of an Integra based monitoring tool that will support all Managers in reporting on progress of the Strategies implementation.
Watch out for the launch next month!
Strategy Update 12 December 2008
The development of the 09-13 strategy is now into its final phase. Internal discussions continue to fine tune the detail of the document with particular emphasis on the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and how they will be broken down by Region. People are, quite rightly, highlighting the need to ensure all the KPI’s are measurable and identified to a member of staff.
It is clear that we operate in an industry where the environment changes quickly. Over the last two weeks we have had to re write the outcome for the workforce development theme to bring it in line with current thinking. Originally we were hoping to measure the number of coaching/teaching hours that we would “deliver” but this was found to be too difficult to measure at a regional level. The new outcome relates to the setting up of appropriate structures to ensure delivery. Although problematic, the flexibility of the process allows us to make late changes, even fundamental one’s like this.
We expect to carry on with this process of consultation for another month. On the 13th January 2009 all of the regional directors are getting together with the National leads to finalise the document and clarify any last minute concerns.
The draft strategy was submitted to Sport England last month [November 2008] alongside the funding application that will support its delivery. We hope to hear from SE by the end of December 2008.
As always, please contact me if you have any queries on this strategy process by emailing me at ceri.wynne@swimming.org
Strategy Update 26 September 2008
I was very pleased with the reaction to my first blog entry, not one direct response to me but quite a few of you wanted to sign up to hear more! I'll assume everything is fine then! If you do want to discuss anything to do with the Strategy please email me at ceri.wynne@swimming.org
Much progress has been made in developing the strategy over the last month. Feedback has been received from the asa Board and the Board were happy with how the strategy had developed. We have made a presentation to Sport England (SE) on our funding application 2009-13 and had the draft Strategy printed in time for distribution to the Council meeting on 11th October.
As is often the case there have been a few discussions about the style of the document, it is similar in style to the existing Vision and strategy documents but is probably more focused on outcomes and how we are going to achieve them. There is, however, almost total agreement that the content is the appropriate way forward for the asa.
An important indicator for SE will be to assess the customers 'satisfaction' with the sport. The customer may be a participant, someone in a club or on the talent programme. The criteria for this is yet to be agreed and it will be measured by SE with initial benchmarking completed in early 2009. In addition we will commission our own satisfaction survey to compliment the SE data and to extend our information from a similar survey in 2005.
The SE funding application date has been extended and we will be submitting our funding application by the 23rd October and expect a decision in early January. The final strategy will then be published in January 2009.
Strategy Update 5 September 2008
Hopefully you will be aware that the asa has been preparing and consulting on its Strategy for the period 2009-13, in conjunction with developing our funding application for Sport England for the same period. These two documents are significant and they represent the future for our organization. They indicate the way we will work and set down the priorities for everyone to see.
We have been consulting on the Strategy for nearly 10 months and have consulted staff, volunteers, partners and Board members. We have tried very hard to ensure that this Strategy is developed from 'the bottom up' and the regions have been fundamental in setting their own priorities and targets within a national framework.
The final draft will be presented to asa Council on Council on 11 October. We also invited comments via the website and this element of the consultation ended on August 22.
Because the document will have such importance I thought it was important for you to know what will happen now. This is why I have begun to write this blog. It will be updated on a regular basis as we have news. If you would like to receive an email when it is updated please email Sharon.rose@swimming.org
Working alongside this process we have been engaging with Sport England to take out of our Strategy the areas that it will be interested in funding. This has posed us with some particular problems as Sport England changed its priorities at the end of last year. However, we are about to have our third meeting with Sport England and have submitted our first draft. The final application will be made at the end of September. We are requesting significant amounts of money to enable us to deliver an agenda that encompasses health, education, club development and talent.
If you have any detailed queries please do not hesitate to contact me via email: ceri.wynne@swimming.org
Ceri Wynne
English Programme Manager
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