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Does Washington State Need a Strategic Plan?

State Rep. Mark Miloscia (left) and WaBA Board Vice-Chair Howard Behar

On Friday the Washington Business Alliance held its Second Annual Meeting in Seattle.  Co-founder and Board of Directors Vice-Chair Howard Behar welcomed State Representative Mark Miloscia who is running for State Auditor.  Mark, who has a strong professional background in organizational accountability that includes service as a National Baldrige Examiner, spoke to the need for Washington State government to improve efficiency and outcomes.  He applauded the WaBA for its efforts to move the state beyond fragmented goals and towards development of a serious strategic plan.

Howard, a former president of Starbucks International, described the mess of goals that he inherited when he took over at Starbucks.  He moved quickly to establish a process that created  a modern strategic plan in order to bring focus and accountability to the company.

The WaBA hopes to bring the same level of discipline to state government with an open plan development process and data-centric metrics to measure the results.  Former state budget director Dick Thompson reminded everyone of the challenge this entails, given the nature of politics and the division between the legislative and executive branches.  Nonetheless, the assembled Alliance members enthusiastically embraced the goal.

Both gubernatorial candidates have asked for assistance from the business community in developing a strategic plan for the state. The Alliance is coordinating efforts to bring together stakeholders to achieve this vision.

For further information on the WaBA go to http://www.wabusinessalliance.org/ .


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