Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement

by John M. Bryson

When it was first published more than sixteen years ago, John Bryson's Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations introduced a new and thoughtful strategic planning model. Since then it has become the standard reference in the field. In this completely revised third edition, Bryson updates his perennial bestseller to help today’s leaders enhance organizational effectiveness. This new

Genres: Business, Management, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Grad School, Leadership, Professional Development

430 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

John M. Bryson is McKnight Presidential Professor of Planning and Public Affairs at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

Reviews

[Cindy Breeding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thick book that includes a disc.

It's comprehensive and applicable for any kind of nonprofit. I bought it to get an idea about how my church should begin to build a strategic plan.

What's most cogent about this book is that it coaches nonprofit boards to back off of concrete plans. Instead, the book coaches you on how to stay flexible in an era of rapid change, and how to re-evaluate a strategic plan and adapt it so that your nonprofit is pursuing plans that are mission and vision oriented.

It's a big, meaty read. Go at it slowly.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to give this 1 star as it was too long, not practical enough and a bit preachy. However, There were some useful tools, just way too much other stuff that got in the way...

I feel I have taken one for the team in ploughing through this!!

[Usama Albastaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed book mixing between material that are common sense and material that translate strategic planning into rules and system. For me , I got lost in some details but of course as I own the book , I will always use it as reference.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thorough explanation of strategic planning which was helpful for me in my pursuit of continued growth in the field of education. The downfall of the book is that it reads like a series of to-do lists and lists of considerations. The strength of its organizational layout becomes its weakness. It takes an intentional effort to grind through the pages, but it is worth it to gain wisdom, techniques, and perspectives related to the topic.

[April Kersey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars It's done! I did it! I read every chapter in this book. Yes, there was some helpful information but my the author was quite obnoxious in the way that he qoutes greek and latin sayings almost to sound smarter. I don't need to waste my time reading your idea of a joke. I need to be informed. This book was way too long. Much of it was common sense. I wish my teacher had picked a book that was more straight forward and gave better examples for class.

[Disdukcapil Purwakarta]

hope

[Michael Belcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few true "textbooks" for strategic planning. A "must read" for strategy scholars and practitioners alike.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tactical approach to strategic planning and leadership. A textbook I will willingly refer to in the workforce!

[Claire]

This feels like defeating a dragon! One that I fell asleep over in battle several times. Good useful info to know that I will apply the hell out of but it was a slog.

[Nicole DeJoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, great deal of information. Read this as a text for a graduate program.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really helpful information but unreasonably verbose. Way too many lists and not visually interesting. It wasn't very accessible for neurodivergent people.

[Dominic Gutierrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

the physical embodiment of a yawn

[Prabhakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the frameworks are useful. Also, considering mandate for a Govt. department is important unlike corporates which are free to explore related areas.

[Prabhakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

in the world driven by growth and profits, this book gives a different perspective about non profit and Govt. related strategic planning.

[femily]

Tons. (Thanks, Page!)

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to read this for work. Yipee.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a tough read, but useful. More success stories would have been helpful to me. The author also taught me the class on Strategic Management.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry, but good information.

[Prum Seila · Rating 5 out of 5]

jgoogd

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is evidently the classic, foundational book on this topic. So the fact that it's deadly must indicate this is not for me. Either that or it's just poorly written.

[Christine Daskais · Rating 2 out of 5]

too dry, bored me to death but informative

[gatorlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invest in distinctive competencies and distinctive assets that continue to be relevant. p.347.