Your Virtual Seminar Leaders. Jane Dysart and Rebecca Jones are principals of Dysart & Jones Associates (D&J)They have been librarians for more than 22 years, and, during the past 12 years their consultancy has assisted organizations in corporate, academic and public sectors. D&J is recognized as a leader in library and information service consulting, focusing on assisting information service organizations in the areas of strategic and direction planning and reviewing and recreating their services. Founded in 1991, D&J has developed a strong track record of working with information service providers in public and private sectors to develop plans, products and services that are as visionary as they are tactical and responsive in a rapidly changing environment. For each client they facilitate a customized approach that enables them to design and implement action-ready organizational and service plans that balance vision with practical, client-focused solutions within their specific context.

Jane and Rebecca have taught business planning, team development, service design and other courses for SLA and for University of Toronto Faculty of Information Studies (FIS) for many years, and are faculty for the FIS Managing Information Enterprises Certificate Program.

Description
Business plans articulate a clear, strategic direction and the specific actions to be taken in that direction. Contrary to popular belief, they not just for entrepreneurial or start-up ventures. A well-developed business plan captures the interest and support of senior management and showcases the information enterprise as a viable, vital operation with a secure future. In today's chaotic, competitive environment, a documented business plan is critical for information enterprises of any size and in any sector to clarify their distinctive position, market, strategies, offerings and operating capabilities.

Since business planning demands significant time and energy, it's important for those managing information enterprises to understand what's involved and the various tools they can use to ensure the process is effective, efficient and invigorating. This course describes the overall business planning process and introduces participants to the tools and planning phases. Business planning doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out thing; a business plan can be developed in a few days. But a plan without buy-in from staff and/or management isn't worth the paper it's written on. This seminar also examines how to build the plan and the buy-in simultaneously.

Targeted Learners
This presentation focuses on the tools and processes needed by any professional interested in business planning. The course materials are intermediate to advanced, and require an understanding of basic planning principles, but are meant to challenge and inspire all professionals at all levels to consider building and implementing a business plan.

Critical Learning Questions
This course is designed to help participants begin to answer these questions:

1. What's the relationship between strategic and business planning, and are both needed?
2. What are the critical success factors for business planning?
3. What tools and processes are used in business planning, and why?
4. How do you gain buy-in and support for a business plan?

V-Pak Only (The V-Pak includes an audio tape of the session, hardcopy of handouts and instructions on how to access the Powerpoint presentation on the web.)
Member $95
Non Member $145

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