Identifying facility needs

Identifying facility needs

While community needs assessment is different that a focused facility needs assessment, it is necessary to think about the importance for inclusion of community needs in the planning process. It is in the defining of the strategic mission of the organization that the community is included in determining how identified needs will be met. Strategic planning is the first step in defining and developing organizational policy (Cleverley and Song, 2011). This is quite different than identifying the needs of a facility that Hayward (2006) describes. Historically, strategic planning was thought of as facility planning but has since moved to a more industry-oriented approach.

Hayward (2006) provides some specific strategies for using the organizational strategic plan as the foundation for facility planning. Community needs have already been included into the defining of strategic goals and objectives that include built environments. The readings suggest that the planning process focus on facility key stakeholders….providers, employees, patients, architect, consultants, managers, etc. Input from “the community” comes before facility planning.
– Would you agree?
-Utilizing the readings, describe how information about the current plant and infrastructure be used in the planning process?

(Please separate the questions. )
Thank you