It Takes Planning

To run a professional symphony orchestra, a strategic plan is absolutely essential in order to operate effectively. 

The strategic plan consists of: 

• a mission statement
• a clear establishment of a program direction

The mission statement is a concise declaration of the organization's purpose that it wants to pursue. This statement should address: 

1. Who? - The staff and/or volunteers that deliver the service-outlining any distinctive characteristics
2. Whom? - The target population served by the organization
3. What? - A brief description of the services provided by the organization that lead to the change or impact
4. Where? - The geographic parameters that define the service area
5. Why? - The purpose or essence of the organization; the change that will occur because of its existence
6. How? - The method by which the services are delivered

It is important to develop a mission that is attainable, measurable, and realistic. The board should be able to picture how the goal will look once it has been achieved. This mission is not only to guide the organization, but also to demonstrate its stable vision and potential for a promising future in the arts to prospective supporters.

Once the mission statement has been decided on, it is then time to create an outlined plan of how the symphony will achieve the mission. The board decides on specific about the tactics and targets that it will use to measure the success of each goal.