ICO/IFOS Strategic Planning:

The Planning Process

On this page:

• Defining a new strategic plan
  
  
• Our previous plan, Vision for the Future
  
  
• Planning this year
  
  
• The process
  
  
• Forum on the Future
  
  
• Follow-up on the planning session

Defining a new strategic plan

In 2006, the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) will take a fresh look at the future of international ophthalmology and define a new strategic plan for the ICO/IFOS.

Our previous plan, Vision for the Future

In 1999 - 2001, we held a series of planning meetings that resulted in definition of the Vision for Future - International Ophthalmology Strategic Plan to Preserve and Restore Vision.

Inspired by that Vision and led by President Fritz Naumann, MD, the ICO accomplished a great deal in the years that followed (see the President's Report on that period of time).

The Vision for the Future focused broadly on international ophthalmology and its role in preserving and restoring vision for the people of the world, not specifically on the ICO or its parent, the International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies (IFOS).

Planning this year

In 2006, we will take a fresh look at the role ophthalmology should play around the world and how we can contribute most effectively. But we will also focus in on the organization and define what we want the ICO/IFOS to be five years from now, what our priorities and goals should be and how best to accomplish them.

In spite of the great progress made under Dr. Naumann's leadership, we still have very limited resources and no central office or staff. So it is essential for us to define clearly what it is most important for us to work on, what we must accomplish, and how.

The planning process

We have scheduled a small strategic planning meeting early in July in Zurich with the new Executive Committee and a few other members of the Council.

It is not practical at this time to try to organize a larger meeting or series of meetings. Yet, it is critical for the participants in the planning session to have the benefit of the ideas and thinking of the Council and its Advisory Committee, of IFOS members and of other ophthalmologic leaders around the world.

So we will send out a series of e-mailings asking for ideas and will ask ophthalmologic leaders for feedback on the plans as they evolve.

Forum on the Future

To facilitate this process, our strategic planning and communications consultant Bill Felch (who is also the ICO Web Master and facilitates the mailing the ICO Leader Letter and IFOS Notes) has set up an "Forum on the Future" on our Web site.

In our mailings to ophthalmologic leaders, we will ask them to respond to a series of questions in this Forum. That way, everyone will be able to see what each person contributes. This will be of great value to the participants in the planning session.

The comments of other ophthalmologists are also welcome. To contribute, just go to the Forum and click on the link for "Comments" under each question. Type your answer in the box that's provided, select "Other" and type in your name, and then click "Publish Your Comment."

That's all there is to it. There’s no need to register or sign in.

If for some reason you can't access the Forum or contribute there, you are welcome to send your ideas by e-mail to ifos@icoph.org. If you don't object, we will add your comments to the Forum.

But it would be much better if you can respond in the Forum. It is actually quite easy to use.

Follow-up on the planning session

After the planning session in July, we will post draft plans in the Forum and again ask for comments.

We would like to develop consensus this year and then approve a strategic plan at the next Council meeting in March 2007.

Next: The Forum on the Future