NFRC
in the News - Purpose-Driven Organization
Door
and Window Maker
June 2005
A
Purpose-Driven Organization
Developing
NFRC's Plan for the Next Five Years
By
Jim Benney
Strategic
planning. These two words strike fear and trepidation in the hearts
of volunteer leaders throughout the capitalist world. It brings
visions of endless meetings, animated facilitators and sheets
of paper stuck all over the meeting room walls. Still, every organization
does it … or should. I'm in the middle of my second go-around
at a strategic planning process at NFRC, and I can say without
reservation that, if done right, it can be very revealing and
rewarding.
When
the NFRC board of directors first began talking about a new strategic
plan (we produced our previous version in 1999), they expressed
some apprehension. With some help from a well-qualified facilitator,
they came to understand its importance and I dare say to even
enjoy it. The process, launched last year, continues.
All
Grown Up
NFRC
is 16 years old (founded in 1989) now, and well into maturity.
We know who we are and what we do; yet, as a 501(c)3 organization,
we still struggle with the needs of the general public. With apologies
to the author of the current best-selling book, NFRC's volunteer
leaders have adopted a strategic planning theme that seeks to
ensure that NFRC remains a “purpose-driven” organization.
The
leadership is inspired to establish not only a direction for the
organization, but also to:
•
Set priorities in the areas where we can truly be effective;
•
Determine where our strengths lie and therefore where NFRC can
make a difference; and
•
Listen to our stakeholders, including our own staff and members,
the average homeowner and everyone in between, to determine the
most effective way to meet their needs.
At
this point, the board has established a new vision and mission
that provide a direction for the future of NFRC. In keeping with
that new direction, the board has also approved a set of goals
and objectives.
NFRC's
new vision is as follows: “NFRC is the recognized global leader
in delivering energy and related performance ratings and certification
for fenestration products and systems.”
The
vision foretells the direction our leaders want to take this organization.
It relates to NFRC's strengths in developing energy performance
rating systems and the dream of expanding this strength beyond
the borders of the United States .
As
its new mission, the board adopted: “NFRC develops and administers
comparative energy and related rating programs that serve the
public and satisfy the needs of its private sector partners by
providing fair, accurate and credible, user-friendly information
on fenestration product performance.”
Strategic
Goals
The
board continues to work hard on the strategic plan. Last year,
it approved the following goals:
•
Strengthen the organization's ability to achieve its mission;
•
Evaluate and improve the existing NFRC programs continually;
•
Build new programs as needed; and
•
Maintain a long-term global focus.
The
board approved some specific objectives under goals one through
three during and just after the recent membership meeting in Hawaii
, and is now working on objectives for goal four. The NFRC hopes
it will be able to publish a completed plan later this year. And
then we will be able to show the world how we have become a purpose-driven
organization.
Jim
Benney serves as executive director of the National Fenestration
Rating Council based in Silver Spring , Md.
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