The use of strategic program management can help an institution to grow to aspired levels. Different projects call for different strategies though the concept always remains the same. Effective project management is crucial if any success is to be attained. Program implementation is the other key aspect of project execution which should be carefully handled. After a successful implementation, an evaluation should be carried to determine how the project has contributed to solving of the problem that was targeted. All these, however depend on the leadership of the project.
Organizational managements have realized the need to use program management in addressing their issues. Program management is necessary because it aids all the processes of a project towards addressing a certain concern. Like in this paper, the foundation schools are set to gain by keenly using the program management approach to the need for expansion of service provision.
The use of program management is crucial if the target goals are to be achieved by any organization. The foundation schools should adopt program in responding to the goal of providing services to an increased number of clients.
The Situation
The foundation schools, the largest special needs program provider, have had a big success in their field. Through segmentation of the leadership team into various departments, the schools have been able to work out different strategies towards attaining the organizational aims. Enrolment in these schools has been soaring in the recent past at a 5 percent level.
Due to the enrolment increase, the schools have got to devise a new development strategy. The school leadership opted for a business development method so as to increase the funding sources and revenues to the schools. The three year project would include a number of fresh projects in a bid to realize their vision. The initial year of the project stands completed.
The Issue and Opportunity Identification
The issue is identified on the basis of the case study which points to the foundation schools service provision. It is alleged in the study that student enrollment has been increasing in the recent past and with this the opportunity to expand service provision emerges. It is through this realization that the schools have embarked on a three year development strategy.
Stakeholder PerspectivesEthical Dilemmas
A good number of the stakeholders representing a 60 percent portion agreed upon the belief that expansion of the foundation schools was necessary and a moral issue whose addressing attracted paramount importance. However, funding of the program needed to be sourced from whatever mechanism that could possibly provide the resource. It was also felt that availing the schools in only three cities was morally wrong in reference to the diversity of the areas that ought to be served. To address the major dilemma, the stakeholders chose to expand the schools to other regions.
The Problem
The foundation schools will become more spread geographically. In this realization, the schools would serve more US residents. In the same line, the funding and revenue collection would rise.
Vision
In the future, the foundation schools are expected to have grown to unprecedented levels. The schools would have expanded to more that the current number of states they occupy. The enrollment of students ought to have grown by large proportions. The training staff would also have expanded to cater for the needs of the expanding student community. Given that plans were in the making to adjust tuition fees, it is expected that the foundation schools would increase their revenue in big ways. Another revenue source would be the donor community. Owing to the good results posted by the foundation schools in the development of life skills and the knowledge imparted to the society, the donor funding would have increased. Having revealed the situation that is anticipated by the schools, the vision statement should read, the foundation schools endeavor to avail the best life skills to all US residents in a view to making the society a better place.
The Alternatives and Benchmarking Validation
The issue there is no fixed way of raising funds and increasing revenues
The realization made is that the demand for the services offered by the foundation schools has been on the increase. Thus, there is need to expand the provision of this service to cater for the increased demand. Instead of raising school tuition, another alternative would be to seek sponsorship as this would ensure needy students are not locked out of the program. However, in the event that no sponsor is secured, the management team should consider having a partial fee increment, partial in the sense that the fee increase should not apply uniformly to all students. This would address the needy students plight. The school should also consider the option of raising funds through the acquisition of loans from commercial lenders. However, the loans repayment and interest rating should be carefully done so as not to run into servicing troubles.
Thirdly, part of the student, staff and management team may be willing to invest. This kind of people should be persuaded into acquiring shares in the school. Such equity would be a very useful tool in raising funds to address the issue. In the case of foundation schools, the most ideal solution would be to seek sponsors to aid in their pursuit to expand providing the life skills service to students. This is in line with the view that raising tuition fees may serve to derail needy students pursuit of education.
The Alternatives
The first ranked goal is to increase the scope of service provision to reach large areas as opposed to the level that currently exists. The role of the foundation schools is to provide life skills to individuals irrespective of any other considerations. It should however be noted here that other factors are of course important. This is after the realization has been made that the foundation schools have only been serving three cities in California. So, in essence there is need to focus attention on spreading these services to other regions.
Narrowed List of Alternatives
The sponsorship option is expected to address the funding issue in cases where it is thought that raising tuition fees may disadvantage a section of the student community that happens to come from poor backgrounds. Sponsorship deals should be struck with charitable or business entities that may be willing to aid the education cause. It is not easy to strike sponsorship deals especially during these difficult times which have been marked by the credit crunch. This is so because most organizations have been forced to reconsider their spending options (McShane and Von, 2004). However, this should not present an obstacle but rather a challenge which the foundation schools should face.
Another important idea that has been raised concerns the adoption of a scheme that allows an interested section of stakeholders to hold ownership of the school through shareholding. This way is ideal as it allows only the willing stakeholders to contribute towards the development of the school. However, the fact that schools of this nature are not profit motivated, skepticism is likely to dog the feasibility. However, with good lobbying, tangible results abound to be realized.
Identification and assessment of Risks
As indicated earlier, another fund and revenue raising strategy would be to source for loans from commercial providers. This is a good form of obtaining funds if well negotiated. The rating of bank loans is known to be quite expensive. This is something that complicates the servicing of such loans. Since schools are not profit making ventures the servicing of commercial bank loans is likely to be a difficult hurdle that may impede the efficacy of loan use. In short, the usage of such funds wont raise the money that bank loans attract in terms of interest accrued.
The risk associated in an attempt to raise funds by shareholding in the foundation schools rests on the same premise that it is not a profit making venture. As a result, very few people would be ready to invest their funds in such a program. It is only out of a will to help that shareholding in this venture would be a success. In mitigating the reluctance to invest, high level lobbying to persuade stakeholders is a prerequisite.
The Decision
Having considered all the options outlined in this paper, it has been realized that it is in the best interest of the foundation schools to adopt the sponsorship approach so as to address the expansionist needs required. The efficacy of the program would be judged on the effect the impartment of such skills achieves. This calls for a diversified approach of seeking funds.
On the above basis, my approach entails looking for 5 sponsors that are willing to lend a helping hand to this initiative. Currently, the needed funds to complete the remaining phase of accommodating more students through expansion may require about 5 million US dollars. In light of that, seeking funds from these five donors would take the dimension where each sponsor is persuaded to cough the highest possible amount. In case of a shortfall, other sponsors are sought. But if the funds raised are in surplus of requirement, the extra funds will be redirected to other uses with the approval of the sponsors.
Through the use of the above mentioned approach, the foundation schools goal to increase student enrollment and at the same time stretch coverage would be a realizable dream. The kind of sponsorship sought should enable the schools to grow to the desired levels by spreading to other states and as a result increasing their student enrollment.
Developing and Implementing the Solution
Preparing the infrastructure
While envisaging expansion, the necessary infrastructure should be put in place. The nature of the environment of implementation should be explored. While preparing to expand the school programs into other cities, all the machinery and equipment ought to be in place.
Coordinating with the organizations involved in implementation
The simple thing here involves communicating with the entire leadership community to strike a working formula that incorporates the use of cooperation. Communication should be ahead of all issues that are to be addressed.
Implementing training
Many solutions require that users attend training or informal coaching sessions. Such type of training could be finished earlier. Training that is close to the point of execution should be carried out as part of the actual implementation plan.
Installing the production solution
This involves moving the development plan to a test. Because this is a new approach, it should be carried out in a thoughtful manner.
Converting the data
Data conversion involves changing the data from one format to another. It should take place once the solution and the infrastructure are implemented.
Performing the final verification in production
This should be aimed at confirming that things are moving according to the laid down procedures, if found not to be so, a revision is deemed necessary. The development plan and implementation personnel should be involved (Mochal, 2003).
Implementing new processes and procedures
As the findings may necessitate, new procedures to address rising problems should be explored.
Monitoring the solution
The project team should expend more energy in monitoring the implemented project. By taking a holistic approach, the project is likely to be a success. But in case problems arise, the monitoring team should be able to fix the problem.
All this is expected to last about two years. All stakeholders and implementation personnel would play a key role. The major needed resources would be financial as opposed to material resources.
Evaluating the Results
Companies have executed development plans achieving mixed results in the process. Successful companies have focused on planning well ahead of schedule and carrying out pilot programs to establish the efficacy of such ventures. Companies that run into problems in implementation may have planed inadequately or used misguided data in rolling out their projects (Edward, 2007). Measuring success along the implementation path rests on the focus on how the program implementation procedures are falling to plan.
Having realized this, it has emerged that project implementation is a difficult task. To sort out the difficult areas, the problem needs to be identified and planning done in advance so as to be in a position to respond to all issues before the implementation begins. However, with good planning and organization, project implementation is a task that becomes relatively easy to achieve.
Development programs need funding and revenue to be successful. As the foundation schools harbor an ambition to increase service provision, they are under no illusions as they need to seek funding so as to be able to roll out such a scheme. However, implementation is an important aspect that requires good planning to succeed. In light of this, the foundation schools should seek that funding and draw a good plan as prescribed in this paper in a bid to achieving the set target.
Organizational managements have realized the need to use program management in addressing their issues. Program management is necessary because it aids all the processes of a project towards addressing a certain concern. Like in this paper, the foundation schools are set to gain by keenly using the program management approach to the need for expansion of service provision.
The use of program management is crucial if the target goals are to be achieved by any organization. The foundation schools should adopt program in responding to the goal of providing services to an increased number of clients.
The Situation
The foundation schools, the largest special needs program provider, have had a big success in their field. Through segmentation of the leadership team into various departments, the schools have been able to work out different strategies towards attaining the organizational aims. Enrolment in these schools has been soaring in the recent past at a 5 percent level.
Due to the enrolment increase, the schools have got to devise a new development strategy. The school leadership opted for a business development method so as to increase the funding sources and revenues to the schools. The three year project would include a number of fresh projects in a bid to realize their vision. The initial year of the project stands completed.
The Issue and Opportunity Identification
The issue is identified on the basis of the case study which points to the foundation schools service provision. It is alleged in the study that student enrollment has been increasing in the recent past and with this the opportunity to expand service provision emerges. It is through this realization that the schools have embarked on a three year development strategy.
Stakeholder PerspectivesEthical Dilemmas
A good number of the stakeholders representing a 60 percent portion agreed upon the belief that expansion of the foundation schools was necessary and a moral issue whose addressing attracted paramount importance. However, funding of the program needed to be sourced from whatever mechanism that could possibly provide the resource. It was also felt that availing the schools in only three cities was morally wrong in reference to the diversity of the areas that ought to be served. To address the major dilemma, the stakeholders chose to expand the schools to other regions.
The Problem
The foundation schools will become more spread geographically. In this realization, the schools would serve more US residents. In the same line, the funding and revenue collection would rise.
Vision
In the future, the foundation schools are expected to have grown to unprecedented levels. The schools would have expanded to more that the current number of states they occupy. The enrollment of students ought to have grown by large proportions. The training staff would also have expanded to cater for the needs of the expanding student community. Given that plans were in the making to adjust tuition fees, it is expected that the foundation schools would increase their revenue in big ways. Another revenue source would be the donor community. Owing to the good results posted by the foundation schools in the development of life skills and the knowledge imparted to the society, the donor funding would have increased. Having revealed the situation that is anticipated by the schools, the vision statement should read, the foundation schools endeavor to avail the best life skills to all US residents in a view to making the society a better place.
The Alternatives and Benchmarking Validation
The issue there is no fixed way of raising funds and increasing revenues
The realization made is that the demand for the services offered by the foundation schools has been on the increase. Thus, there is need to expand the provision of this service to cater for the increased demand. Instead of raising school tuition, another alternative would be to seek sponsorship as this would ensure needy students are not locked out of the program. However, in the event that no sponsor is secured, the management team should consider having a partial fee increment, partial in the sense that the fee increase should not apply uniformly to all students. This would address the needy students plight. The school should also consider the option of raising funds through the acquisition of loans from commercial lenders. However, the loans repayment and interest rating should be carefully done so as not to run into servicing troubles.
Thirdly, part of the student, staff and management team may be willing to invest. This kind of people should be persuaded into acquiring shares in the school. Such equity would be a very useful tool in raising funds to address the issue. In the case of foundation schools, the most ideal solution would be to seek sponsors to aid in their pursuit to expand providing the life skills service to students. This is in line with the view that raising tuition fees may serve to derail needy students pursuit of education.
The Alternatives
The first ranked goal is to increase the scope of service provision to reach large areas as opposed to the level that currently exists. The role of the foundation schools is to provide life skills to individuals irrespective of any other considerations. It should however be noted here that other factors are of course important. This is after the realization has been made that the foundation schools have only been serving three cities in California. So, in essence there is need to focus attention on spreading these services to other regions.
Narrowed List of Alternatives
The sponsorship option is expected to address the funding issue in cases where it is thought that raising tuition fees may disadvantage a section of the student community that happens to come from poor backgrounds. Sponsorship deals should be struck with charitable or business entities that may be willing to aid the education cause. It is not easy to strike sponsorship deals especially during these difficult times which have been marked by the credit crunch. This is so because most organizations have been forced to reconsider their spending options (McShane and Von, 2004). However, this should not present an obstacle but rather a challenge which the foundation schools should face.
Another important idea that has been raised concerns the adoption of a scheme that allows an interested section of stakeholders to hold ownership of the school through shareholding. This way is ideal as it allows only the willing stakeholders to contribute towards the development of the school. However, the fact that schools of this nature are not profit motivated, skepticism is likely to dog the feasibility. However, with good lobbying, tangible results abound to be realized.
Identification and assessment of Risks
As indicated earlier, another fund and revenue raising strategy would be to source for loans from commercial providers. This is a good form of obtaining funds if well negotiated. The rating of bank loans is known to be quite expensive. This is something that complicates the servicing of such loans. Since schools are not profit making ventures the servicing of commercial bank loans is likely to be a difficult hurdle that may impede the efficacy of loan use. In short, the usage of such funds wont raise the money that bank loans attract in terms of interest accrued.
The risk associated in an attempt to raise funds by shareholding in the foundation schools rests on the same premise that it is not a profit making venture. As a result, very few people would be ready to invest their funds in such a program. It is only out of a will to help that shareholding in this venture would be a success. In mitigating the reluctance to invest, high level lobbying to persuade stakeholders is a prerequisite.
The Decision
Having considered all the options outlined in this paper, it has been realized that it is in the best interest of the foundation schools to adopt the sponsorship approach so as to address the expansionist needs required. The efficacy of the program would be judged on the effect the impartment of such skills achieves. This calls for a diversified approach of seeking funds.
On the above basis, my approach entails looking for 5 sponsors that are willing to lend a helping hand to this initiative. Currently, the needed funds to complete the remaining phase of accommodating more students through expansion may require about 5 million US dollars. In light of that, seeking funds from these five donors would take the dimension where each sponsor is persuaded to cough the highest possible amount. In case of a shortfall, other sponsors are sought. But if the funds raised are in surplus of requirement, the extra funds will be redirected to other uses with the approval of the sponsors.
Through the use of the above mentioned approach, the foundation schools goal to increase student enrollment and at the same time stretch coverage would be a realizable dream. The kind of sponsorship sought should enable the schools to grow to the desired levels by spreading to other states and as a result increasing their student enrollment.
Developing and Implementing the Solution
Preparing the infrastructure
While envisaging expansion, the necessary infrastructure should be put in place. The nature of the environment of implementation should be explored. While preparing to expand the school programs into other cities, all the machinery and equipment ought to be in place.
Coordinating with the organizations involved in implementation
The simple thing here involves communicating with the entire leadership community to strike a working formula that incorporates the use of cooperation. Communication should be ahead of all issues that are to be addressed.
Implementing training
Many solutions require that users attend training or informal coaching sessions. Such type of training could be finished earlier. Training that is close to the point of execution should be carried out as part of the actual implementation plan.
Installing the production solution
This involves moving the development plan to a test. Because this is a new approach, it should be carried out in a thoughtful manner.
Converting the data
Data conversion involves changing the data from one format to another. It should take place once the solution and the infrastructure are implemented.
Performing the final verification in production
This should be aimed at confirming that things are moving according to the laid down procedures, if found not to be so, a revision is deemed necessary. The development plan and implementation personnel should be involved (Mochal, 2003).
Implementing new processes and procedures
As the findings may necessitate, new procedures to address rising problems should be explored.
Monitoring the solution
The project team should expend more energy in monitoring the implemented project. By taking a holistic approach, the project is likely to be a success. But in case problems arise, the monitoring team should be able to fix the problem.
All this is expected to last about two years. All stakeholders and implementation personnel would play a key role. The major needed resources would be financial as opposed to material resources.
Evaluating the Results
Companies have executed development plans achieving mixed results in the process. Successful companies have focused on planning well ahead of schedule and carrying out pilot programs to establish the efficacy of such ventures. Companies that run into problems in implementation may have planed inadequately or used misguided data in rolling out their projects (Edward, 2007). Measuring success along the implementation path rests on the focus on how the program implementation procedures are falling to plan.
Having realized this, it has emerged that project implementation is a difficult task. To sort out the difficult areas, the problem needs to be identified and planning done in advance so as to be in a position to respond to all issues before the implementation begins. However, with good planning and organization, project implementation is a task that becomes relatively easy to achieve.
Development programs need funding and revenue to be successful. As the foundation schools harbor an ambition to increase service provision, they are under no illusions as they need to seek funding so as to be able to roll out such a scheme. However, implementation is an important aspect that requires good planning to succeed. In light of this, the foundation schools should seek that funding and draw a good plan as prescribed in this paper in a bid to achieving the set target.
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