DoView can be used for high level strategic planning. Stakeholders often find it easier to think about their high level objectives when they are visuallized as outcomes within a DoView model.  DoView can also be used for specific tasks within strategic planning - stakeholder planning and SWOT* analysis. The steps for developing a strategic plan in DoView are as follows:

 

1. Draw an outcomes model

For information on how to build an outcomes model see the Section on Outcomes models. You can also find examples of outcomes models you can borrow to use yourself at Outcomesmodels.org.

 

2. Mission and vision

The top levels of your outcomes model make up your vision and mission. You may want to write these out separately as in a traditional vision and mission statements, or you might be happy with the way they are visualized in your DoView model without having to have a separate vision and mission statement. If you want to simply use the DoView approach, print the high level pages out using print as PDF and use them as your high level  vision and mission statement (you can put them up on the wall as you would a vision and mission statement if you like).

 

3. SWOT and stakeholder analysis

You can use DoView for various types of analysis. For example, SWOT analysis and Stakeholder planning.

 

4. Priority setting

Get agreement of your internal and (as appropriate) external stakeholders for the priorities for your organization in the next planning period. You can mark these on your DoView model by making priority steps different colors (e.g. using the three different shades of blue to show priority) or you can just put numbers (1,2,3 priority) or letters (A,B,C priority) into the relevant step.

 

5. Show which activities contribute to which steps and outcomes

You can create steps for each or your organizational or project activities and then make links between these and the steps and outcomes in your model which that particular activity contributes to. Then clone them onto a larger page and draw in the line and arrow links. This will give you an overview of why you are doing what you are currently doing. It can also be used to think about the priorities for action in the future.

 

* Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analyses used in strategic planning.