Reimagining our CLSA

[CBarrett]

Someone needs to put on a business development and marketing seminar for surveyors.
Something that takes people who want to go there, beyond Ma and Pa shops.

[CBarrett]

On business planning:

A professional organization, like any other organization, can benefit from having a business plan. A business plan can help a professional organization in several ways:

Defining the organization's mission and objectives: A business plan can help a professional organization define its mission and objectives, and set specific, measurable goals for growth and success.

Identifying and addressing industry trends: A business plan can help a professional organization identify trends and opportunities in the industry, and develop strategies to stay competitive.

Securing funding: A business plan can be used to secure funding from donors, sponsors, or grants. It provides a detailed overview of the organization's financial projections and funding requirements.

Measuring performance: A business plan serves as a tool for measuring the organization's performance over time and making adjustments as necessary.

Communicating with members: A business plan can be used to communicate the organization's vision and strategy to its members, and to keep them informed of the organization's goals and activities.

Building a strong governance: A business plan can help professional organization establish a strong governance and management structure, with clear roles and responsibilities for its board and staff.

Overall, a business plan can be a valuable tool for a professional organization, it helps in setting direction, making strategic decisions, and communicating with stakeholders. It also helps the organization to focus on its goals, measure progress and make adjustments as needed.

[CBarrett]

A business plan is a document that outlines the strategy, goals, and operations of a company. It serves several purposes, including:

Defining the business: A business plan clearly outlines the company's products or services, target market, and competitive advantage.

Securing funding: A business plan is often used to secure funding from investors or lenders. It provides a detailed overview of the company's financial projections and funding requirements.

Setting goals and objectives: A business plan helps a company set specific, measurable goals and objectives for growth and success.

Identifying challenges: A business plan also helps a company identify potential challenges and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Measuring performance: A business plan serves as a tool for measuring a company's performance over time and making adjustments as necessary.

Communicating with stakeholders: A business plan is also a tool for communicating the company's vision and strategy to stakeholders such as employees, partners, and customers.

Establishing benchmarks: A business plan establishes benchmarks to measure the company's progress, and how it's going to achieve its goals.

Overall, a business plan is a roadmap that guides a company's direction and growth, it helps in making strategic decisions, and serves as a tool for both internal and external communication.

[CBarrett]

Writing a business plan for a land surveying professional organization involves researching and analyzing the industry, identifying opportunities and challenges, and outlining a strategy for growth and success. Here are some steps one can take to create a business plan for a land surveying professional organization:

Conduct market research: Gather information about the current state of the land surveying industry, including trends, market size, and key players. Identify any gaps in the market that your organization could fill.

Define your target market: Identify the specific group of people or businesses that you will be targeting with your organization's services. Consider factors such as geography, types of properties, and types of survey needed.

Outline your services: Clearly state the services your organization will offer, such as certification, continuing education, networking, representation, and advocacy.

Develop a membership strategy: Identify the most effective ways to reach and attract members to your organization. Consider factors such as benefits of membership, fees, and communication with members.

Create financial projections: Use your research and membership strategy to create realistic financial projections for your organization. This will include revenue, expenses, and profit over a specific period of time.

Outline your team: Identify the key people who will be involved in the execution of your business plan, including their roles and responsibilities.

Create an action plan: Outline the specific steps and milestones that need to be met in order to successfully implement your business plan.

Compliance and regulations: Make sure you understand the regulations and compliance requirements specific to the land surveying industry in your area, and outline how your organization will comply with them.

Representation and Advocacy: Identify the key issues and challenges facing the land surveying profession, and outline how your organization will advocate for the profession and provide representation to government and other stakeholders.

It's important to note that this is a general overview and the specifics of the business plan will depend on your organization's goals, size, and target market. It's also important to consult experts in the field, to help you develop a comprehensive and effective plan.

[CBarrett]

In a business plan, a strategy is a high-level plan that outlines how a company will achieve its goals and objectives. It defines the company's overall approach to achieving its mission, and typically addresses long-term goals and objectives. A strategy is often developed by looking at the company's strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats in the industry.

Tactics, on the other hand, are specific actions or steps that a company will take to execute its strategy. Tactics are the detailed plan of action, specific steps or methods that a company will use to achieve its objectives. They are the means by which a company will implement its strategy. Tactics are usually short-term and focused on achieving specific goals or objectives.

A strategy is the what and why, a tactic is the how. A strategy is a general idea of what a company wants to achieve, tactics are the specific actions that will be taken to achieve it.

For example, a company's strategy might be to expand its membership base by increasing its online presence. Tactics to achieve this strategy could include developing a social media marketing plan, optimizing the company's website for search engines, and creating content marketing campaigns.

[CBarrett]

A SWOT analysis is a tool used in a business plan to evaluate a company's internal and external environment. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A SWOT analysis is used to identify a company's strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats in the industry.

Strengths: Identify the unique advantages and positive attributes of the company, such as proprietary technology, skilled workforce, or established brand.
Weaknesses: Identify the areas where the company is lacking, such as limited resources, lack of expertise, or weak financial position.
Opportunities: Identify potential opportunities for growth and expansion, such as new market trends, untapped customer segments, or emerging technologies.
Threats: Identify potential challenges and threats to the company, such as increased competition, changes in government regulations, or economic downturns.

A SWOT analysis helps a company understand its internal and external environment, and identify opportunities and challenges. This information can be used to develop a strategy and tactics for growth and success. It also helps to keep the company on the right track, by pointing out the potential risks and opportunities. This can help the company make better decisions and plan for the future.

[LS_8750]

To develop an authoritative publication on standards of practice and standards of care would be nice. A consensus among seasoned professionals.

[David Kendall]

To develop an authoritative publication on standards of practice and standards of care would be nice. A consensus among seasoned professionals.

I agree. Evan Page started writing that book about 5 or 6 years ago. Landon Blake is currently trying to continue the effort. I mentioned it at the last board meeting. I don't believe that most of our brethren are concerned about defined standards. They're better off making them up as they go

TSPS did this many years ago (1977). As I recall it works very well and surveyors follow it voluntarily. CLSA apparently doesn't know where to start or doesn't recognize the value. Instead we have a filing mandate with ambiguous requirements, an objectively goofy county surveyor review process and a great discussion forum!

The first paragraph of the Preface on pg 4 says it all

https://static1.squarespace.com/static ... ACTICE.pdf

[CBarrett]

To develop an authoritative publication on standards of practice and standards of care would be nice. A consensus among seasoned professionals.

I'd love that. In the overarching business planning, it is likely one of our weaknesses that we don't have a more universally accepted one.
I often think of it as 'best practices' type of a book.
Something that also addresses varied conditions that we encounter across the state.

What kind of an effort would be required to create this, who are the interested parties who would want to participate?
Are there any existing efforts underway already which would benefit from more hands on the project? What is known so far?

[CBarrett]

CLSA apparently doesn't know where to start or doesn't recognize the value.

Do we know why?
Are we having trouble getting people to agree in general, or are there very specific objections were it was impossible to find a compromise?
(In addition to the page 4 paragraph) :)

Landon Blake is currently trying to continue the effort.

Is Landon looking for helpers? If so do we know what areas of the effort need help?

[LS_8750]

NSPS has Model Standards not far from the TSPS if I recall correctly.

Focusing on boundary work is my intent, standards of practice, standards of care.

[CBarrett]

So, is this something that can initially be written informally by like-minded (perish the thought) surveyors coming together, getting most of the work done, and then have CLSA ranks review it (white paper style) and adopt it?

Are there monetary funds required?

There's also a lot of materials written by agencies, which can be reviewed and see if they are willing to lend the information.

[LS_8750]

Knock Knock LSACTS, is there anybody out there?

[CBarrett]

Knock Knock LSACTS, is there anybody out there?

I asked several people about LSCTS and the efforts seems somewhat dormant right now, aside from very topic specific white paper publishing. It is possible I have not gotten hold of the right people too. Usually It is Mike I talk to.