Strategic Plan

Accountability from 2011 to 2013

NSGIC's leadership is committed to a continuous strategic planning process that involves its general membership and Corporate Leadership Council. Common sense tasks will be identified, tracked and reported on over this period to ensure that the Goals and Objectives in this plan are successfully implemented.

1.0 Introduction

The National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) is an organization committed to effective and efficient government through the prudent adoption and use of geospatial information and technologies. Members of NSGIC include senior state geographic information system (GIS) managers and coordinators. Other members include representatives from federal agencies, local government, the private sector, academia and other professional organizations. The NSGIC membership is a diverse group that includes nationally and internationally recognized experts in geospatial technologies, geospatial data creation and management, and information technology policy.

Since its inception in 1991, NSGIC has periodically held leadership retreats to evaluate the organization and ensure that its activities are properly targeted to reflect the needs of its membership. Most recently, twenty-three members of NSGIC's leadership team met with ten members of its Corporate Leadership Council to conduct a strategic planning session October 11-12 at the NSGIC Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The final result of that meeting is this strategic plan which will guide the organization from January 2011 to December 2013.

NSGIC serves as a forum for the exchange of information, and the development of consensus based opinion. It advances the interests of the states with regard to national geospatial policy and the development of the individual statewide spatial data infrastructures (SSDI) that are required to build the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). As a result of NSGIC's work over the past nineteen years, the role of the states is increasingly important and visible in both arenas, that of national geospatial policy and development of the NSDI. This revision of NSGIC's strategic plan reflects the changing role of the states, as well as the continuing need for NSGIC's leadership to help guide this process.

Vision

NSGIC's Vision is that all levels of government become highly effective and efficient through coordinated development and use of geospatial data and technologies.

Mission Statement

NSGIC's Mission is to promote statewide geospatial coordination activities in all states and be an effective advocate for states in national geospatial policy initiatives thereby enabling the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

2.0 What Will a Successful NSGIC Look Like?

NSGIC will take positive steps over the next three years to accomplish the goals and objectives in this strategic plan. If successful, the following statements will describe the organization.
NSGIC will:

continue to be the leading voice of state governments in national geospatial policy issues;

be a trusted and relied-on facilitator for federal agencies in their efforts to partner with the states to build SSDIs;

be a support organization for states, includingWashington D.C. and the insular areas, to develop their own SSDIs;

serve as an information source regarding the geospatial “health” of states; and

monitor and respond to future geospatial technology trends to ensure that impacts will positively affect government effectiveness and efficiency.

3.0 Goals

During the 2010 leadership retreat, the following goals were established to implement NSGIC's vision and achieve its mission. They reflect where the organization is in its maturation process, and help to ensure proper guidance for the operational components of the organization.

NSGIC will support effective statewide coordination activities to promote development of well defined State Spatial Data Infrastructures contributing to a national spatial data infrastructure.

NSGIC will advocate for the effective national policies and funding required to advance the NSDI by building comprehensive SSDIs

NSGIC will develop leaders in the geospatial community and be accountable to its membership.

NSGIC will attain adequate resources to achieve its mission

4.0 Objectives

To accomplish its goals, NSGIC has established objectives that:

Are clear, concise and attainable

Are measurable

Have a target date for completion

Include responsibility for taking action

The following objectives support the refined goals and position the organization to be effective over the next three year period. They build upon the previous strategic plans that have guided NSGIC through the present.

GOAL 4.1 - NSGIC will support effective statewide coordination activities to promote development of well defined State Spatial Data Infrastructures contributing to a national spatial data infrastructure.

Objectives:
4.1.1 Track and report on the “health” of statewide coordination efforts through updated web tools.
Assignment: Technical Committee and Communications Committee
Target Completion Date: Reports will be completed in August for presentation at each Annual Conference

4.1.2 Monitor and assess the FGDC Fifty States Initiative to provide feedback from the states for
inclusion in future elements of Federal programs.
Assignment: Washington Liaison
Target Completion Date: August of each year

4.1.3 Maintain and annually improve NSGIC's GIS Inventory to meet the business needs of the states and Federal agencies to ensure increased adoption of the system each year.
Assignment: Washington Liaison
Target Completion Date: Each Annual Conference

GOAL 4.2 – NSGIC will advocate for the effective national policies and funding required to complete the NSDI by building comprehensive SSDIs.

Objectives:
4.2.1 Advocate for developing and funding all nationwide (For the Nation) efforts, such as Imagery, Transportation, Elevation, Addresses and Parcels, including monitoring, participation and reporting on each effort.
Assignment: Outreach Committee (Lead) and the CLC
Target Completion Date: Quarterly with a report at the Business Meeting at each Annual Conference

4.2.2 Adopt an annual Advocacy Agenda that is vetted and approved by the membership to address the issues that are of the greatest benefit to state business needs.
Assignment: Outreach Committee
Target Completion Date: Annual Business Meeting each year

4.2.3 Publish regular position papers to address short-term goals identified in, or related to, the advocacy agenda.
Assignment: Outreach Committee
Target Completion Date: Draft within 2 weeks of the issue identification by the Outreach Committee

4.2.4 Improve opportunities for the states to interact with their own Congressional Delegations and Governor's Washington Offices through activities sponsored at the Midyear Conference.
Assignment: Outreach Committee (Lead), Conference Committee, Washington Liaison and KSG
Target Completion Date: January of each year

4.2.5 Stay aware of future high value technologies that may impact the development of statewide geospatial programs and provide guidance to the states on the implications of these new technologies.
Assignment: Technical Issues Committee
Target Completion Date: Annually concurrent with development of the Advocacy Agenda

4.2.6 Communicate with and review the activities of other organizations to stay aware of synergies between their activities and NSGIC's interests, to establish issue-based agreements as appropriate.
Assignment: Outreach Committee, NSGIC COGO Delegate
Target Completion Date: Ongoing

GOAL 4.3 - NSGIC will develop leaders in the geospatial community and be accountable to its membership.

Objectives:
4.3.1 Develop and retain knowledgeable leaders that will engage in the activities of the organization, thereby ensuring its future course, sustainable growth and survivability.
Assignment: Board of Directors (Lead) and Membership Committee
Target Completion Date: Ongoing

4.3.2 Modify and update the NSGIC web site to ensure that it is informative and useful for conducting NSGIC business and that it supports the membership.
Assignment: Communications Committee & SMG
Target Completion Date: Ongoing

4.3.3 Ensure that presentations at Annual and Midyear Conferences relate to the organization's strategic plan, advocacy agenda or committee work.
Assignment: Conference Committee
Target Completion Date: Ongoing

4.3.4 Maintain awareness of new web-based communications tools and implement their use as appropriate to increase in-reach to NSGIC members and outreach to NSGIC partners and the public.
Assignment: Communications Committee (Lead), Outreach Committee, Membership Committee
Target Completion Date: Ongoing

GOAL 4.4 - NSGIC will attain adequate resources to achieve its mission.

Objectives:
4.4.1 Identify and implement, as appropriate, incentives to encourage all states to be engaged and participate in the activities of the organization.
Assignment: Membership Committee (lead), Conference Committee, Sponsorship Committee, Conference Travel Workgroup and KSG
Target Completion Date: Ongoing with incentives due December & July each year

4.4.2 Adjust staff levels as appropriate to support the expanding activities of NSGIC and its Committees, Work Groups and Liaisons.
Assignment: KSG (Lead) and the Financial Workgroup
Target Completion Date: Ongoing based on contract requirements

4.4.3 Find new options for generating revenues that are adequate to implement NSGIC's long term goals.
Assignment: Financial Workgroup (Lead), Treasurer, KSG and the CLC
Target Completion Date: Annually in June