Why SWOT Ourselves?

The SWOT board at KCC

On Saturday, KCC will kick off the substantive part of our strategic planning process in style--with a meeting to assess our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (or challenges). While it seems obvious enough what we hope to accomplish in the meeting, how this fits in with strategic planning may be less so. As it turns out, such an assessment is an absolutely critical to understanding an organization so that the strategic plan is based on real circumstances, not overly rosy ones.  It's a moment to be clear-eyed and pragmatic.

Take, for example, a few of the responses we've already gotten back from people in our survey.  Under Strengths, people have noted:

• Carry practice in volunteer work
• Commitment of sangha
• Get a lot out of small amount of income

KCC, an all-volunteer community, has enormous resources in its committed sangha.  When we think about the tools we have to carry out our strategic plan, one is a community who will work to support KCC.

But what kinds of barriers do we face?  Under Weaknesses, people identified:

• Too much emphasis on process; slow decision-making  
• Lack of space/size of KCC   
• Failure to attract younger people

One of the downsides of an all-volunteer organization is that things get done more slowly.  It may not be reasonable to consider a strategic plan that requires nimble decision-making.  The failure to attract younger people might be a concern for the future stability of KCC.  Do we need to include something in the model that includes attracting a diverse sangha?  Finally, KCC has a less-than-ideal urban center.  We can either continue with its known limitations or consider looking for something more suitable.  Either way, we need to include it in the mix of weaknesses we face.

Ever organization that has weaknesses also has opportunities.  A few that people highlighted were:

• Could maximize our rich teachings through publication  
• Collaboration with other groups   
• Expand sangha by buying/renting new urban center

Finally, what are the threats and challenges that endanger KCC?  Generally speaking, these are outside forces.  (The current economic downturn has affected KCC's financial situation, for example.)  People suggested these threats:

• Loss of key people, including lama(s)  
• Size of the sangha as limited by KCC's urban center size  
• Financial viability with expanded programs in Portland and at SCOL

These are by no means exhaustive, but they give an idea of how the Strategic Planning Committee will use them as they begin thinking about KCC's future.  We hope you'll join us on Saturday to help consider these important--and fascinating--aspects of KCC.