PROPOSAL TYPE
Roundtable
SEEKING
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
RELATED TOPICS
- Leadership
- Consulting
- Public Engagement
ABSTRACT
Planning is hard work, and too often plans either sit on the shelf or generate resentment from staff and stakeholders who see the plans as disconnected from reality. Yet, planning can be an important tool to help organizations understand their values and provide a rationale for “holding the line” in uncertain times. In this proposed roundtable, we will discuss different planning approaches that create a shared sense of purpose, a basis for decision making, and a mission driven framework to respond to the unexpected. Through case studies presented by round table participants and open discussion, attendees will learn about different kinds of planning, the outcomes they produce, and leave with ideas for implementing planning processes.
DESCRIPTION
It’s hard to hold the line if there is not a collective understanding within an organization or a community where the line is. The goal of this session is to examine how thoughtful planning processes can help public history organizations and practitioners stay true to their vision and values when confronted with unexpected circumstances or novel threats. The roundtable will share planning techniques and case studies that demonstrate how planning created a shared vision and developed frameworks for decision making that allowed the organization to respond cogently to new challenges.
I am looking for additional presenters of all backgrounds and work experiences who are interested in sharing how planning has helped them to manage change or to respond to new challenges as a leader, staff member, professor, consultant, or community member. I look forward to working collaboratively with other interested presenters to shape the proposal to reflect our collective expertise and experience.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly:
Sara Patton Zarrelli, Museum Insights, [email protected]
All feedback and offers of assistance should be sent by June 5, 2026. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.