FORESIGHT & INSIGHT
Durham Region Strategy
Client
Regional Municipality of Durham
Scope of Work
Desk research
Environmental scan
Horizon scan
Community profile
Engagement
Workshops
Surveys
Data synthesis
Recommendations report
Engagement, Research, and Strategy Recommendations
We were asked to take a “Strategic Foresight” perspective to identify longer-term threats and issues in this complex environment. With nine regional departments, and the difficult context of trying to navigate through the intersecting issues of changing demographics, public safety, climate change, affordability, housing shortages, public health and infrastructure management it was necessary to begin the process with a deep understanding of the complexity of current issues and public concerns.
Working with senior leadership, a steering committee, elected Regional Council and with broad community engagement we developed strategy recommendations for the Regional Municipality of Durham. Durham is one of the fastest growing areas in Canada and is comprised of eight different municipalities east of the city of Toronto with a wide range of opportunities and challenges.
We collaborated with the leadership team coordinating the strategy project. We designed surveys and held participatory workshops with the Steering Committee, Regional Council, business groups, community partners and a youth group. We used “3 Horizons” workshops to examine the status quo, the “desired future” and discuss strategies to get there.
Our research also included an “environmental scan”, a “horizon scan”, trend deck, and the creation of future scenarios to discuss with the steering committee.
Research Synthesis
All the research was synthesized. Patterns identified and organized into themes. We looked at scales of impact and the level of interest of stakeholders across the many areas of regional operation. By looking at the entire system a more nuanced understanding was achieved, and a more integrated proposal of recommendations was formulated.
Clear Document Design
Efficient and effective governance and service delivery required prioritizing ambition within the system and appropriate allocation of resources to achieve goals. Our recommendation document gave clarity to the strategy exercise by articulating the approach in clear themes. Each theme was then given a “strategic imperative”, a strategic approach and statement. Each theme was also assigned three strategic focus areas with identified tactical initiatives. As well, each theme had a short list of opportunities and challenges articulated. The structure and design of the document and the ease of understanding was much appreciated by the client.
Our recommendation document gave clarity to the strategy exercise by articulating the approach in clear themes. Each theme was then given a “strategic imperative”, a strategic approach and statement.
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KerrSmith Design
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