ABSTRACT
Strategic planning has become an increasingly useful approach to public sector management. Elected and appointed government officials have adopted techniques of strategic planning from the private sector chiefly to better anticipate emerging public needs and "to govern with foresight". In adopting an issues management form of strategic planning, Hennepin County, Minnesota, has developed a process to identify and resolve issues having broad, countywide significance over the next three to five years. The chapter identifies the factors leading to the adoption of this strategic planning initiative. It describes the issues management approach in detail and the county's process of implementation from 1983 to 1986. The chapter offers an analysis of the effectiveness of the issues management process. In a climate where the raising of questions about the mission of the county, its policy and funding priorities, and the effectiveness of board leadership has been encouraged, improved morale among many managers has resulted.
