Social service organizations are under increasing pressure to strengthen the level of professional management. Reduced government funding, the increasing number of service providers, and growing societal demand for responsible, accountable, and effective social services are causing these organizations to seek ways to enhance organizational effectiveness and service delivery. In particular, strengthening management planning skills and using appropriate planning tools are essential to succeed in an increasingly competitive and under-funded market.

While many professional management practices and techniques have been developed for and implemented in the corporate sector, few of these have been adequately adapted to the specific circumstances of the social service sector. This textbook introduces and demonstrates a systematic approach for undertaking effective strategic planning in this sector. Practical, field-tested frameworks and worksheets for improving an organization's strategic and long-term focus, and enhancing the rigor of its decision-making, supplement the material.

The market-based approach - unique to this book - encourages an organization to examine the current and evolving needs of key stakeholders and identify which client groups it can best serve given its limited resources.