November 21, 2011

Strategic Planning Process to Launch Early Next Year

The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court and Chief Justice for Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan have announced plans to begin a comprehensive strategic planning process early next year.  The process, which is expected to extend through calendar year 2012, will help the judicial branch to forecast the court system's needs and priorities in serving the people of Massachusetts.  It will enable the courts to develop strategies to address the priorities and meet the identified needs.

“The time is right to embark on a planning process,” said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland. “The courts must build on the significant progress they have made in performance measurement, as they face the significant fiscal challenges of today and tomorrow.  We will need to hear perspectives from across the system and beyond to shape a vision for carrying out our constitutional mission in an ever-changing environment.  The quality of the planning effort will depend on the extent of involvement we are able to achieve.”

The preparatory first phase of the three-phase planning process will involve formation of a Steering Committee by January 2012 to serve as a working group on process design and logistics.  The Steering Committee will help a professional facilitation team to design and manage the planning process – scheduling meetings, identifying necessary data and information sources, and ensuring broad communication.

The Court, with the assistance of the Division of Capital Asset Management, has enlisted the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) at UMass/Boston to serve as the professional facilitation team through the entire process.  MOPC and the Steering Committee will work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders and constituents through a comprehensive series of activities that will result in an actionable and broadly-supported strategic plan.

The second phase of the planning process will involve information gathering on the court system's current operational status, as well as its opportunities and challenges.  The final phase of the process will involve the development of a future vision and plans for moving the court system from the present state toward that desired future state.  The final plan is expected to include a capital plan, a technology plan and a workforce development plan to support the strategies for achieving the vision.

Throughout the planning process there will be many opportunities for input and participation by a broad, representative cross-section of the court, its stakeholders, the public and the other branches of government.  Multiple methods of communication and interaction will be established to ensure that the entire process is transparent and inclusive.  Court leaders look forward to the support and participation of court employees and external stakeholders.  Regular updates will be provided in the weeks ahead and throughout the process.

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