News Detail

A Flexible and Dynamic Strategic Plan for 2001 and Beyond

7/1/2001

For the past several years, I have had the opportunity to be involved in Strategic Planning sessions for the American Concrete Institute. I received my first introduction to this process at ACI conventions, first when Paul Zia (ACI President, 1989) chaired the effort, and again when Jim Pierce (ACI President, 1996) headed Strategic Planning activities. The current Strategic Plan has evolved under the guidance and direction of Jim Jirsa, immediate ACI past president, and Jim Toscas, ACI executive vice president.

Every time I have participated in a Strategic Planning session, it has been an educational and enlightening experience. With each subsequent effort, we gain an ability to see with new eyes. Our purpose stays focused, based on a strong commitment to the Institute that our predecessors have carried forward for almost 100 years, and which enables our vision to become clearer each day.

Strategic Planning is a never-ending and dynamic process. It begins with values and vision, and leads into purpose and mission. These characteristics are the backbone of ACI's Strategy 2001, which evolved from a consensus of a cross section of people drawn from all sectors of the Institute.

A Planning Group made up of the ACI Board of Direction and several senior ACI staff members met during June 2000 to review the Plan and begin the process of developing new long-range strategic goals. Following that session, the draft Strategic Plan was placed on the ACI web site to generate more feedback, and members of past Strategic Planning committees were asked for their input, as well. Staff compiled and organized the feedback. As a result, enhancements were made to the preliminary plan. This initial draft was then published in the January 2001 issue of Concrete International, inviting comments from the general membership.

In March 2001, the ACI Board of Direction formally approved our new Strategic Plan. It is now time for us to begin its implementation. All committee chairs are asked to review the Strategic Plan with their committees at each meeting. I encourage all of you to read, review, and begin working the Plan before we assemble for ACI’s 2001 Fall Convention in Dallas, TX.

To illustrate the meaning of Strategy 2001 to ACI, we can create an acrostic out of the word STRATEGIC:

Specific — Our vision, purpose, and goals are clear and unambiguous;

Technical — Our focus is technical knowledge;

Relevant — We strive to meet the needs of the concrete industry;

Applicable — Our products are useful, practical, and beneficial;

Timely — Our technical knowledge is delivered in a timely manner;

Excellent — We strive to be the best in everything we do;

Growing — We grow by reaching an ever greater portion of the industry;

International — We think, work, and act with an international perspective; and

Concrete — What it’s all about!

Strategy 2001 establishes a new proactive role for ACI in the concrete industry, while reinforcing our core purpose of providing knowledge and information for the best use of concrete. The complete Strategy 2001 document is posted on the ACI web site: www.concrete.org. I encourage you to review it and reflect upon it.

As I said, Strategic Planning is a dynamic process. We are always open to your input and any refinements you may wish to offer.

Daniel L. Baker,
President,
American Concrete Institute

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