Strategic Planning Capacity Building
Lesson Plan
Curriculum developed in part with funding from
USDA/RCDI Building Entrepreneurial Community Capacity Project
This curriculum consists of materials which can be used in whole or in part to help learners
better understand how to engage in the development of a respectful, caring, cooperative
relationship between a community and its business employers that can ultimately cultivate a
more ‘entrepreneur-friendly’ community environment. The materials may include:
1. Lesson Plan/Teaching Outline to teach a 2 hour session including:
a. Introduction including purpose of session (how this supports building an
entrepreneur friendly community)
b. Teaching Steps
2. Materials to be distributed prior to and during the class (handouts)
a. Agenda or overview of session
b. Work sheets
c. Reading lists
d. Web Based Media:
e. Web based materials such as audio, video, podcasts, blogs, etc.
3. Power Point slides and accompanying slide narrative comments
4. Video podcast
5. Additional Resources: to gain more depth
a. Web sites or blogs
b. Additional reading materials
For more information, feel free to contact the author:
Jerold R. Thomas, Ph.D.
Ph: 419.306.9400 419.306.9400
Fx: 614.292.9750
e-mail: thomas.69@osu.edu
Web: http://leadershipcenter.osu.edu/
Skype & AIM: thomas69osu
Facebook: Jerold Thomas
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Author bio:
Jerry Thomas is the Leader for Innovation and Change for Ohio State University Extension.
Jerry has previously been the Director of the OSU Extension Center at Lima, a District and
Regional Director, District Specialist and County Extension Agent. Prior to that he was a
regional planner in Defiance, Ohio. He has degrees in American Studies and Geography from
The University of Toledo and Extension Education from The Ohio State University.
Jerry has presented at various conferences and meetings and is the technical board member of the
Journal of Extension. He is the president elect of the Ohio chapter of ESP and a former VicePresident of the Ohio Extension Agents' Association.
Jerry's specialization areas include technology literacy, future studies and organizational
development, and local economic development.
Primary Learning Objectives
Learners will:
1. The components of implementing a strategic thinking process
2. Review and evaluate brainstorming material generated in previous course sessions
3. Propose potential long-term outcomes desired from the implementation of a entrepreneur
friendly community approach
Lesson Plan/Teaching Outline
Preparation Before the Class Session
1. This session is designed to accomplish two tasks:
 Teach class participants a model for accomplishing a strategic thinking process
 Identify specific potential long-term outcomes for the community to target based
on knowledge gained through the first six course modules. Suggested long-term
outcomes are simply gathered at this time. A second round of strategic planning
will be accomplished in the final session of the course.
2. Instructor(s) should select a specific strategic thinking model to be used by the
community in developing one to two implementation plans based on long-term. The
Logic Chain Model is provided as a method used by the authors of this course. Use of
this model is encouraged but the authors recognize there are a number of quality strategic
thinking approaches. It is important the instructor(s) select a model that they feel
appropriate for the course. Support materials are provided within this module for the
Logic Chain approach. Worksheet 1 presents an overview of the Logic Chain Model,
Worksheet 2 provides a blank Logic Chain form for use with a local community program.
Worksheet 3 provides a blank Action Planning Sheet to be used to develop action steps
for the identified strategies.
3. Instructor(s) will need to refer to the class questions generated in the previous course
sessions to identify potential long-term outcomes. Use of the class participant’s answers
to each of the class questions will be used as needs assessment materials. Additional
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assessment materials can also be introduced at this time by the instructor if desired. A
list of specific class questions from previous course sessions is provided as Worksheet 4
to help the instructor quickly capture this information. Instructor(s) will need to select the
specific class questions from the total list of class questions to determine those most
appropriate for review during the time allotted for this strategic thinking module. The
instructor(s) may wish to seek the assistance of a few class participants to help with the
selection of these questions for review. A written summary of the class participant
responses should be prepared for each class question. This summary will be used during
the first Strategic Planning Session to assist class participants determine long-term
outcomes.
During the Class Session
1. Instructor should teach the components of the selected strategic thinking model. If the
Logic Chain Model is selected Worksheet 1, Overview of Logic Chain Model should be
used. It is estimated 30-45 minutes should be used for this activity.
2. The next class activity is to review the responses to Modules 2-6 class questions. One
method is to provide the summary of class participant’s responses to the Modules 2-6
class questions and provide them 10 minutes to review the information individually.
Following that review the class participants should collectively share their individual
thoughts and reflections regarding key issues identified in the class sessions to date. A
summary of each participants comments should be recorded for future use. Estimate 20
minutes for completing this collective conversation. (30 minutes for total review
activity.)
3. The final 45 minutes to one hour of the class is devoted to brainstorming potential longterm outcomes. Each participant is provided to present a potential long-term outcome
they feel is important to the community being an entrepreneur friendly community. At
this point long-term outcomes are only suggestions. Additional long-term outcomes will
also emerge from the final three modules. All suggested long-term outcomes should be
recorded for future use. Suggestions should not be challenged. Questions or comments
should be clarification in nature seeking to better understand why the participant
proposed a specific long-term objective and clarity of what is specifically is proposed.
4. At the ending of the session the Instructor is encouraged to reinforce
 the participation in the remaining modules that long-term outcomes generated
today will be retained for consideration in Module 11 Strategic Planning
 a final Logic Chain Plan (Strategic Planning) will be created for one to two in
Module 11
Strategic Thinking Web-based Materials:
1. Learners and Instructors can gain more detailed information about the Logic Model at:
University of Wisconsin-Extension
Program Development and Evaluation
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande/evaluation/evallogicmodel.html
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2. Learners and Instructors can gain more detailed information about Action Planning
through the Vision to Action Model at:
List of Support Materials for Use in Modules Seven and Eleven Strategic
Planning
Worksheet 1
An overview of the Logic Chain Model
Worksheet 2
A Blank Logic Chain Form
Worksheet 3
A Blank Action Planning Sheet
Worksheet 4
Class Questions for Modules 2 – 6
Worksheet 5
Class Questions for Modules 7 - 10
Worksheet 6
An Example of a Completed Logic Chain Model Form
Worksheet 7
An Example of a Completed Action Planning Form
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