P2: Vision & Objectives Setting

Establishing a strong, up front ‘vision’ is crucial in terms of building consensus in expectations and understanding the alternative positions of key partner stakeholders at an early stage in the overall process. What is needed from this stage is a clear and transparent overall shared ‘vision statement’ and set of objectives that can be used to guide the evaluation, analysis and design process stages.

ATLAS has become involved in many projects that have been initiated without clarity or early consideration of partner expectations and objectives. This has led to delay, misunderstandings between the partners and missed opportunities further down the process.

Establishing an agreed vision and set of objectives should be an early task of the Steering Group, but need not be considered as an onerous or detailed task. It should draw relevant positions together under a range of key topic areas and identify common objectives together with potential areas of conflict.

The outcomes from this stage should not set detailed or quantified expectations, but should establish key principles and themes which the project will need to address. It can also establish a formal statement against which the project can be tested and evaluated as it evolves over time.