TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 326: Strategic Planning and Decision Making in State Departments of Transportation examines state and provincial transportation departments' experience with strategic planning and synthesizes current approaches to linking strategic planning with other decision-making processes, including operational and tactical planning, resource allocation, performance management, and performance measurement.
The research described in this report assembles a set of tools based on experiences and best practices in a diverse set of states for linking strategic goals to resource allocation and implementation decisions using aspects of asset management. A survey of practices in each of the state DOT's that explores documents and synthesizes both strategic planning processes and asset management was conducted. With input from an expert advisory panel, five states were for detailed analysis. These are Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Montana and Pennsylvania. The model process that results does not represent any particular state, but incorporates elements from all five states. This model process can provide useful guidance to states interested in augmenting their existing process.
This is the first guide to achieving long-term impact and social change by employing critical strategies in the health and human services sector. It is based on lessons from a learning lab of 20 human services organizations and their chief strategy officers who, as part of the ìStrategy Countsî initiative, engineered significant improvements in their ability to adjust to change, reap the benefits of more data-driven decisions, innovate in ways that have meaningful impact, and establish fruitful partnerships with companies, communities, and government. The book is based on the findings of a long-term pilot projectóthe Alliance for Children and Families Strategy Counts initiativeówhich focused on enhancing the social impact of human services organizations by increasing their reliance on strategy and its effective deployment throughout the entire organization. Included among these findings are those tools and methods that have the greatest potential to help nonprofits effectively anticipate emerging market forces and adapt strategies accordingly. Replete with lessons learned and case studies, the book will inform a great variety of human services organizations in their quest to improve the lives of children, adults, and families. Key Features: Comprises the first guide to using critical strategies in human service organizations to achieve transformation and long-term social impact Designed to foster agility in adjusting to change, reliance on data-driven decisions, and successful partnerships with companies, communities, and government Describes how the chief strategy officers from a learning lab of human services organizations used strategy to innovate, strengthen organizational culture, and effect meaningful change Based on the findings of the Alliance for Children and Families Strategy Counts initiative
“Paige Wolf provides truths, tips, and mom-to-mom advice on how to go green without going insane in this humorous must-read.” —Pregnancy & Newborn From BPA in baby bottles and asbestos in crayons to misleading “natural” labels—even the most steadfast parent can be driven to frustration. Lighthearted yet authoritative, Spit That Out! cuts through the information overload, sorts cloth from disposable, and empowers readers to make simple but impactful changes. Featuring real life anxieties and advice from celebrities like Alysia Reiner and Kaitlin Olson, to activists such as Robyn O’Brien and Stacy Malkan, to everyday super moms, Paige Wolf assures you that you aren’t alone. Hot-button topics include food, toys, breast milk and diapers, clothing, the hidden toxins in schools, and how to spot greenwashing from a mile away. This “realistic guide to keeping your kids safe and healthy” is bursting with valuable advice on green vacations, how to handle unsupportive friends and family, and how to be green on a budget (People). “Read this book!” —Alysia Reiner, actress, Orange is the New Black “A drastic alternative to my original plan for my son’s safety—keeping him in a plastic bubble!” —Tammy Pescatelli, wife, mother, comedian, exhausted “Wolf offers practical suggestions for both managing your house and managing your emotions when you feel overwhelmed.” —Apartment Therapy “For readers seeking advice on how to ditch guilt and be proactive when it comes to making healthy choices for their children, Wolf’s book ought to become the go-to guide.” —Publishers Weekly “Candid and humorous . . . a clear and comprehensive guide to navigating debates, understanding risks, and making informed decisions.” —Treehugger
