ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how business owners use planning to develop and operate a successful arts organization. It explores techniques for assessment, or the evaluation and analysis of the financial, programmatic, and operational features of the business. The strategic plan is valuable because it provides a process and structure for working through the many variables and challenges encountered when developing and operating a business. Developing and using a strategic plan can help an arts-related business stay focused, productive and results-oriented as it grows from a new startup into an established enterprise. The value of creating a strategic plan lies in the process of organizing the planning sessions and working through the analysis, forecasting, and prioritization steps of each key area. Business plans do not need to be overly complicated or time-consuming to produce. Accountability has become an increasingly important component of business development and operations.
