Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of steps where Adult and Continuing Education (A.C.E.) key decision makers were involved in the institution-wide strategic planning process of their respective institutions and their degrees of satisfaction with the resultant strategic plan. Satisfaction with the strategic plan was viewed as a factor in the acceptance and implementation of the strategic plan of the parent institution. Methodology. This descriptive research was accomplished through a researcher-developed telephone survey conducted with forty-nine A.C.E. key decision makers from thirty-eight four year colleges and universities. The survey results were tabulated to show the number of steps where participation in the strategic plan occurred and the satisfaction with that strategic plan. The results were analyzed using a t-test for independent samples to determine the differences in satisfaction based on the number of steps of participation in the strategic planning process. Findings. Those who participated in virtually all of the steps in the strategic planning process had a level of satisfaction between satisfied and extremely satisfied. The satisfaction of those who participated in fewer steps ranged from slightly dissatisfied to slightly satisfied. Those who did not participate in the strategic planning process had a satisfaction level of slightly satisfied. An interesting characteristic of those who participated in the entire strategic planning process was their perception that they had the power to influence and implement the strategic plan. This study also found that in general, there was no difference in satisfaction between those who participated in the strategic planning process and those who did not. There is, however, indication that there is less dissatisfaction with the strategic plan by those who did not participate in the strategic planning process. Conclusions and recommendations. Those who wish to gain the acceptance and support of the institution's strategic plan would do well to seek other ways of acceptance other than participation in the strategic planning process unless the participants were involved throughout the entire process. Anecdotal comments seem to indicate that complete involvement is not enough, and a perception of power to influence and implement the strategic plan is significant to satisfaction.