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Sleep Research Society
Strategic Planning Retreat
Prepared by:
October 12-13, 2014 Table of Contents
Introduction...... 1 Assessing the Current Situation...... 2 Strengths of the Society...... 2 Weaknesses/Areas of Improvement of the Society...... 3 Critical Issues the Society Will Face in the Next Three to Five Years...... 4 Setting Future Direction...... 5 Overview of Key Elements of Future Direction...... 5 Mission...... 6 Central Challenge and Strategic Priorities...... 6 Strategic Mapping...... 8 Strategic Map for the Sleep Research Society...... 10 Partnership and Identity...... 17 Implementation Planning...... 18 Setting Implementation Priorities...... 18 Identifying Tracks of Work...... 20 Developing Preliminary Implementation Plans...... 20 Next Steps...... 23 TSI’s Next Steps...... 23 Communicating the Strategic Plan...... 23 Implementation Planning...... 23 “Review and Adjust” Process...... 23 Closing...... 24 Sleep Research Society Strategic Planning Retreat Meeting Summary: October 12-13, 2014
INTRODUCTION Allan Pack, President of the Sleep Research Society, welcomed participants to the strategic planning session. He thanked Jerry Barrett, John Noel, and Becky Roberts for their help in supporting the strategic planning work.
Allan Pack and Janet Mullington provided opening remarks, which can be viewed in the attached presentation by double-clicking on the icon below.
SRS Strategic Planning Retreat--Introduction (10 14) Allan and Janet.pptx
Allan Pack then introduced Stacey Zawel of TSI CONSULTING PARTNERS and invited her to facilitate the session. Stacey provided an overview of strategic effectiveness – an organization’s ability to set the right goals and consistently achieve them.
Organizations with high strategic effectiveness: Quickly formulate a “good enough” strategic plan. Move immediately to implementation – letting implementation teach them the ways that the strategy is on target and ways it needs to be improved. Review progress on implementation regularly with honesty and candor. Make needed adjustments based on what is working, what isn’t, and how the world has changed. Focus on results, not activities.
Sleep Research Society Page 1 ASSESSING THE CURRENT SITUATION Assessing the current situation of the Sleep Research Society is a first step in setting its future direction. As input to this assessment, TSI conducted 12 interviews with key stakeholders identified by Society leadership. Nine of the interviewees were Society members and three were non-members. In addition, 364 stakeholders completed an online survey. The interviews and survey addressed four core questions: What are the strengths of the Society? What are the Society’s weaknesses/areas of needed improvement? What are critical issues facing the Society over the next three to five years? What key priorities should the Society establish in its strategic plan?
The stakeholder summary, which can be viewed in the attached presentation by double- clicking on the icon below, was used by participants as input to their assessment of the current situation.
Executive Summary of Stakeholder Feedback FINAL.docx Participants met in small groups to assess the current situation of the Society. A summary of the small group reports follows.
Strengths of the Society
GROUP 1: TED ABEL, JIM WALSH, DAVID GOZAL, KATHY REID, JONATHAN WISOR Consistent membership Journal Sleep – the topic is recognized by everybody as relevant Multidiscipline Community/government relations
GROUP 2: JEANNE DUFFY, PAUL SHAW, SEAN DRUMMOND, MARK WU, DANIEL BUYSSE Trainee support/trainee day Diversity Scientific areas Geographic (U.S./Canada/international) Leaders in the field are part of the organization – committed members Networking opportunities
GROUP 3: RON SZYMUSIAK, DAVID WHITE, CAROL EVERSON, JENNIFER GOLDSCHMIED, FRANK SCHEER Community Training Advocacy/PR Meeting/journal Basic science
Sleep Research Society Page 2 GROUP 4: EUS VAN SOMEREN, ANDY KRYSTAL, HANS VAN DONGEN, MICHAEL GRANDNER, JENNIFER MARTIN Community Network of peers Hard to define Common interest in sleep is unique Trainee focus Voice in government – advocacy SLEEP journal
Weaknesses/Areas of Improvement of the Society
GROUP 1 Seen as secondary to another primary discipline Perceived value Journal (structure, sections) Lack of identity (partly due to APSS) Conference Public awareness/media
GROUP 2 Sections – structure, purpose? Meeting – organization, content (not newest) Too many symposia Not enough new findings Overall identity and purpose of SRS is not clear to outsiders (and even some members/“insiders”)
GROUP 3 Communicating SRS’s identity Limited revenue streams Lack clear science tracks in the meeting Focus/efficacy given limited resources Capture members.
GROUP 4 The organization doesn’t facilitate networking. Membership sections are useless. Need to be reconsidered/reformulated “Networks” instead of sections? “SIG” model (Phil/Allan) Dynamic The community is “closed.” Need to set the bar higher in the quality of the science Need to help members navigate issues in sleep research The SLEEP meeting
Sleep Research Society Page 3 Compromise has led to serving no one’s needs well. Dividing the meeting by sector creates more division. Mentoring – grant writing/meeting/make connections Don’t leverage our position as a leading scientific organization in speaking about sleep – visibility
Critical Issues the Society Will Face in the Next Three to Five Years
GROUP 1 Membership engagement/new members Conference (cutting-edge research) other disciplines Journal Global society Integrating work with other groups/organizations Advocacy/outreach/government relations
GROUP 2 How to make SRS a “home” for all people conducting sleep research Increase international collaboration/members/presence. Better communicate SRS’s accomplishments (i.e. government relations accomplishments). Make an SRS-only meeting. Pipeline/funding
GROUP 3 Funding research/poor NIH leadership structure SRS funding revenue/focus Pipeline Recognition Member benefits
GROUP 4 “Split personality” – basic/clinical dichotomy Value is not clear from the outside – small proportion of all researchers value. Funding for sleep science – SRS should do what it can to help support What is the cost/benefit of current APSS partnership? Emerges the “public face” or authority in sleep science/public relations
Discussion of the assessment of the current situation included the following points. The Society is trying to do too much. It can’t be successful trying to be all things to all people Identifying a few things to do well that no other sleep or sleep related society is doing is essential. While some participants question whether the Society can establish its own, unique identity as part of APSS, many believe it is possible as long as the Society builds a portfolio of offerings beyond the annual meeting and the journal.
Sleep Research Society Page 4 Participants agreed that while the meeting and the journal are the Society’s identity, other important work is going unnoticed, including: Impacting funding for research Raising public awareness to foster support for sleep research Increasing awareness among the legislature about the importance of sleep research Participants raised concern about the impact of the Society’s identity being tied to the weak annual meeting. Suggestions to improve the meeting included the following points: Increase emphasis on cutting-edge, high-level research. Encourage international participation. Make more time in the program for networking. Increase opportunities for multidisciplinary interaction/collaboration. Establish distinct tracks to make the large meeting seem smaller and more easily navigable. In addition to making annual meeting improvements, participants discussed the possibility of adding separate meeting(s) to cater to smaller, specialized groups of scientists in order to: Allow for more, in depth discussion/debate Increase opportunities for collaboration Foster a smaller forum for basic scientists Some question what the Society can accomplish with so little infrastructure – limits potential. Leadership noted funds are available for strategic investments.
SETTING FUTURE DIRECTION
Overview of Key Elements of Future Direction Stacey Zawel provided a brief overview of the key elements of an organization’s future direction.
Sleep Research Society Page 5 An organization’s mission states why it exists, its reason for being, its fundamental purpose. It’s an enduring statement that usually remains the same for many years, providing long-term continuity and direction for the organization. Vision articulates the long-term outcome or end-state that the organization will make a definitive contribution to creating. Strategy outlines what the organization needs to do at this point in its history. It is more focused and time bound than mission and vision – often looking to the next three to five years. An organization’s core values and/or guiding principles outline its unique approach, its norms for “how we do things” in the organization. An organization’s tactics outline “how to” implement its strategy.
Mission As context for setting future direction for the Sleep Research Society, participants reviewed the current mission of the organization.
CURRENT MISSION OF THE SLEEP RESEARCH SOCIETY The Sleep Research Society is a member organization of scientists that exists to foster scientific investigation on all aspects of sleep and its disorders, to promote training and education in sleep research and to provide forums for the exchange of knowledge pertaining to sleep.
After discussion and revision, the group accepted the following as the mission of the Sleep Research Society.
MISSION OF THE SLEEP RESEARCH SOCIETY The Sleep Research Society advances sleep and circadian science.
Central Challenge and Strategic Priorities Participants were asked to identify – in a word or phrase – the central challenge that the Society faces over the next three years. A summary of responses follows: Advocate for research funding and research training. Establish and implement our identity. 50% increase in membership Being relevant to membership Best serving the needs of our members; being vital Funding Better developed national recognition for the Society – source for expertise Should the Society exist and why? Develop a clear identity. Avoid having an infinite number of sleep societies. Make sure we attract members who are pursuing cutting-edge research and ensure young investigators are trained in cutting-edge research. Membership growth Provide an identity we can be proud of; makes you want to belong to the organization; an elite feeling. Achieve relevance for our members and the larger sleep community.
Sleep Research Society Page 6 Provide a place (meetings and the journal) for sleep scientists to present their latest and greatest findings. Being identified as the place to be a member of Increase membership by improving value, external awareness and identity. Promote the value and urgency of sleep research and the excellence and authority of sleep researchers so well it survives the funding crisis. Increase relevance and appeal of the Society to the broader group of scientists engaged in sleep research. Identify a relevant and dynamic mission for the Society. Make members of the Society see the Society as a wise investment of their time and money. Clearly provide and communicate the value of the Society to membership. Reunite researchers and clinicians across segments/sections. Far too fragmented This will be our undoing. Focus on needs of the sleep research field and not of the Society.
Using a one-page graphic representation of a strategic map, Stacey Zawel explained the concepts of central challenge and strategic priorities. The oval at the top of the strategic map is the central challenge. It is the focal point for strategy. It focuses on what the organization needs to do in the next three years to support its mission. The central challenge is supported by some number of strategic priorities. Strategic priorities are the few critical things we must do in order to meet our central challenge. The number of strategic priorities can vary, but is never fewer than three or more than six. There are two tests of a strategic priority: Is each priority necessary to meet the central challenge? Are the strategic priorities taken together sufficient to meet the challenge?
Based on participant input on the central challenge, Stacey Zawel then presented a “first draft” of a possible central challenge and strategic priorities for the Sleep Research Society for the next three years. After discussion and revision, the group agreed to the following version as “good enough” to begin work to develop strategic objectives for the map.
Sleep Research Society Page 7 The Sleep Research Society Strategic Map: 2014-2017 The Sleep Research Society advances sleep and circadian science. Draft 10/12/14 Build a Robust, Excellent, Sleep Research Community
A B C D E Strengthen the Strengthen Enhance Quality of Career Increase Membership Maximize Impact Vibrancy of Resources of Advocacy Development Communication Scientific Programs and to Achieve and Engagement and Outreach Offerings Goals Services
F Develop Strategic Partnerships
G Increase Organizational Effectiveness and Adaptability
Strategic Mapping In order to develop a strategic map for the Society, participants worked in small groups to identify objectives that support each strategic priority. A summary of the small group reports follows:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY A: STRENGTHEN MEMBERSHIP COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT (MICHAEL GRANDNER, KATHY REID, SEAN DRUMMOND, JONATHAN WISOR, JEANNE DUFFY) Determine the optimal communication strategy(s) to members (i.e. social media, blogs). Communicate with members vs. public. Use social media to facilitate networking. Be conscious of generational differences. Determine how to give members more of a sense of ownership in the Society. Consider sections/committees. Contribute scientific ideas to meetings. More avenues for involvement Increase mentorship. Find ways to recognize members’ contributions (i.e. excellence!) Research and to the field Use social media to promote members. Trainee awards Develop novel and effective strategies for engaging the sleep research community that is not in the Sleep Research Society.
Sleep Research Society Page 8 Free membership to K, R, etc. Reach out to European/international sleep communities. Partner with other societies in meetings. Determine whether or not the SRS needs to provide more tangible benefits. Why do people leave? Balance of resources Another way to put it – determine the benefits the SRS needs to provide to maximize membership value Why do people join? Why do they leave? Do we need more tangible benefits?
STRATEGIC PRIORITY B: MAXIMIZE IMPACT OF ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH (RON SZYMUSIAK, JIM WALSH) Retain Washington D.C. representative and congressional interactions. Frequent NIH interactions regarding research priorities. Expand outreach to other funding agencies, including: VA PCORI DOD DOT Explore international funding opportunities. Continue CDC national sleep awareness project.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY C: ENHANCE VIBRANCY OF SCIENTIFIC OFFERINGS (TED ABEL, ANDY KRYSTAL, FRANK SCHEER, PAUL SHAW, MARK WU, DAVID GOZAL) Focus the SLEEP meeting and the journal to enhance SRS identity and contribution. Hold an SRS meeting within the larger meeting. Foster a small scale “feel.” Revitalize the reviewer pool. Technical development session Increase trainee involvement and engagement of presenters. Trainee-centric presentations “Unpublished” results Explore new meeting opportunities. Joint symposia with other societies New smaller meetings Proactively incorporate cutting-edge research into meetings and the journal. Incorporating trainee-centric presentations will help accomplish this Will require revitalizing the reviewer pool
STRATEGIC PRIORITY D: STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (HANS VAN DONGEN, EUS VAN SOMEREN, DANIEL BUYSSE, JENNIFER GOLDSCHMIED) Select the most excellent and passionate trainees to develop and award.
Sleep Research Society Page 9 Develop a network of labs to host trainees (specific training opportunities). Provide on the website Selective Small grants Support grant review and involve senior researchers (SRS supports mentoring of junior to senior). Promote PhD/post-doc abroad programs. Mobilize grants available. Communicate on the SRS website. Facilitate informal junior/senior interaction (make it affordable). Tailor training opportunities to the trainee’s level (i.e. trainee day). Include hand-on practicals in trainee day. Invite expert teachers from outside the field of sleep. Need better metrics of effectiveness
STRATEGIC PRIORITY E: INCREASE RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE GOALS (JENNIFER MARTIN, DAVID WHITE, JANET MULLINGTON, JERRY BARRETT, ALLAN PACK, CAROL EVERSON) Seek funding from industry for academic physicians in sleep research. Second fellowship year AASM partnership Grant writing for training and education, conferences Grow membership and meeting attendance/raise dues – membership revenue. Industry education Contract for grant reviews. Seek industry support for non-clinical sleep research.
Strategic Map for the Sleep Research Society Based on the above input and extensive discussion that followed, the group developed the strategic map on the following page to guide the Society’s efforts during the next three years.
Sleep Research Society Page 10 The Sleep Research Society Strategic Map: 2014 -2017 The Sleep Research Society advances sleep and circadian science. Final Implement SRS Priorities & 11/10/14 Align Resources to Promote a Robust, Outstanding, Sleep & Circadian Research Community
A B C D E Strengthen the Strengthen Maximize Impact Enhance Quality of Career Increase Membership of Advocacy Vibrancy of Development Resources Communication and Outreach Scientific Programs and to Achieve and Engagement Offerings Services Goals
Determine Benefits Seek Industry Funding Maintain a Evaluate the SRS Needs to Increase Trainee to Train Academic 1 Washington DC Partnership Provide to Maximize Selectivity Physicians in Lobbying Presence Benefit and Viability Membership Value Sleep Research
Develop an Identity Target Training Seek Funding to Determine Optimal Engage NIH and Contributions Opportunities to Support Training 2 Communication Frequently Regarding Distinct from the Appropriate and Education Strategies and Tools Research Priorities the Partnership Trainee Level Conferences
Give Members Improve Metrics Seek Funding Expand Outreach to Develop New SRS a Greater Sense of to Measure to Train 3 Other Funding Meetings and Ownership in Success of Non-Clinician Agencies/Sources Forums the Society Training Programs Investigators
Find Ways to Develop Explore Proactively Incorporate Increase Recognize Members’ Cutting-Edge Cross-Lab 4 International Membership Contributions and Research into the Training Funding Sources Revenue Excellence Meeting/Journal Opportunities
Implement Novel Enthusiastically Increase Trainee Define and Promote Strategies to Engage Support the CDC Research Identify New 5 Global Trainee Non-Member Sleep National Sleep Contributions at Revenue Streams Opportunities Research Community Awareness Project Meetings/in Journal
Facilitate Facilitate JR/SR Develop Financial 6 Media Networking and Plan to Support Outreach Mentoring Priorities
F Develop Strategic Partnerships
G Increase Organizational Effectiveness and Adaptability Discussion of the strategic map included the following points. The central challenge, “Implement SRS priorities and align resources to build a robust, excellent, sleep research community:” Reflects a focus on the field, not the Society Recognizes that strengthening the Society is primarily to enhance and promote the field Demonstrates that the reason the Society exists is for the field While some participants prefer a Society-centric central challenge, most deem a field-focused central challenge best. Strategic Priority A, “Strengthen membership communication and engagement:” Emphasizes the need to improve communication with members in order to achieve engagement Includes a shift in culture to engage in multidisciplinary ways Requires a decrease in fragmentation between basic and translational research Includes fostering high level scientific conversations among top notch researchers Focuses on striving for excellence in everything the Society does Strategic Priority B, “Maximize impact of advocacy and outreach:” Stresses the importance of the Society’s advocacy role with: The Legislature NIH Other funders Implies the pursuit of other funding sources Focuses energy on developing a relationship with the public, directly or indirectly Strategic Priority C, “Enhance vibrancy of scientific offerings:” Recognizes the need to increase the scientific robustness of the meeting and the journal Acknowledges that membership is a direct representation of the strength of the science and the Society Recognizes the important link between membership engagement and scientific offerings Emphasizes the need to improve current offerings and create new ones (i.e. Cold Spring Harbor) Strategic Priority D, “Strengthen the quality of career development programs and services:” Includes developing programs for trainees, mid-levels, as well as senior investigators Includes a mentor-mentee development program Places importance on improving the quality of networking opportunities Strategic Priority E, “Increase resources to achieve goals:” Emphasizes the need to diversify funding sources Stresses that the year after year revenue decrease cannot continue if the Society is going to be viable Stresses the desire to continue supporting innovative science and training
Sleep Research Society Page 12 At the bottom of the strategic map there are two cross-cutting strategic priorities. In strategic map logic, a cross-cutting strategic priority: Is placed at the bottom of the strategic map to show that it is foundational to the strategy Spans the map from left to right to demonstrate that efforts to achieve the cross-cutting priority will be embedded in the efforts to implement all the other strategic priorities on the map No plan to implement the other strategic priorities will be considered complete unless it includes emphasis on the cross-cutting priority. Cross-cutting Strategic Priority F, “Develop strategic partnerships,” reflects the opportunity to achieve any of the strategic priorities through alignment with other societies, nationally and internationally. Cross-cutting Strategic Priority G, “Increase organizational effectiveness and adaptability:” Recognizes the need to align the committee and task force structure with strategic priorities Includes evaluating and revising staffing needs
Strategic Priority A, “Strengthen membership communication and engagement,” is supported by the following strategic objectives. Strategic Objective A-1, “Determine benefits the SRS needs to provide to maximize membership value, includes:” Identifying and aligning the Society’s deliverables with membership needs; without it, effort may be for naught Providing more tangible benefits/value Improving the journal, the meeting, and advocacy in order to achieve member satisfaction Enhancing member communication of all the Society currently does Understanding why people leave and why they join Strategic Objective A-2, “Determine optimal communication strategies and tools:” Focuses on communication with members Recognizes that generations differ with respect to ways members wish to receive communication Includes social marketing and blogs Strategic Objective A-3, “Give members a greater sense of ownership in the Society:” Stresses the importance of finding ways for members to contribute scientific ideas to the meeting Includes increasing the number of opportunities to volunteer at any level from trainee to senior investigator, such as in sections and on committees Emphasizes an increase in mentorship, which will increase commitment to the Society Trainee opportunities in Strategic Objective A-3 could include participating: As a trainee member-at-large On standing committees In the TEAC sub-committee
Sleep Research Society Page 13 Participants agreed that metrics need to be aligned with the goals set out in Strategic Objective A-3. Strategic Objective A-4, “Find ways to recognize members’ contributions and excellence,” includes: Research and other contributions to the field Using social media to promote member contributions Trainee awards Strategic Objective A-5, “Implement novel strategies to engage the non-member sleep research community,” includes: Providing free membership to K, R, etc. scientists Reaching out to European and other international members Partnering with other societies’ meetings
Strategic Priority B, “Maximize impact of advocacy and outreach,” is supported by the following strategic objectives. Strategic Objective B-1, “Maintain a Washington D.C. lobbying presence:” Reflects the importance of continuing the investment Includes interaction with Congress and other Washington D.C.-based entities, including funders Strategic Objective B-2, “Engage NIH frequently regarding research priorities:” Stresses the importance of staying “top of mind” at NIH Recognizes that sometimes interaction with NIH can turn into job opportunities, which helps everyone in the field Strategic Objective B-3, “Expand outreach to other funding agencies/sources,” includes Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, and the Patient- Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Strategic Objective B-4, “Explore international funding sources,” reflects new knowledge that international funding sources often designate funds specifically for international applicants and is a potential source for US-based researchers and trainees. Strategic Objective B-5, “Enthusiastically support the CDC national sleep awareness project:” Emphasizes the impact the project has and will have on public understanding of sleep and sleep issues Accomplishes an important aim of the Society - to increase public awareness of sleep and its impact on health Reflects the significance of the project to members Is whole heartedly supported by all participants Strategic Objective B-6, “Facilitate media outreach:” Recognizes that while the national sleep awareness project represents much of what the Society wants to do, there are additional outreach opportunities to consider Emphasizes a facilitating role for the Society - to put the media in touch with experts (i.e., it is Society members, not the Society itself, media wants contact with).
Sleep Research Society Page 14 A Society role could include developing a searchable database of members that matches scientists with their expertise.
Strategic Priority C, “Enhance vibrancy of scientific offerings,” is supported by the following strategic objectives. Strategic Objective C-1, “Evaluate partnership benefit and viability:” Emphasizes that now is a good time to evaluate and potentially refresh the APSS partnership The partnership is 29 years old. It’s a good time to evaluate whether it continues to remain a viable opportunity for both partners. The strongly collegial relationship should pave the way for a productive discussion. The discussion needs to include representatives who wish to maintain the partnership as well as those leaning toward dissolving it. The conversation should revolve around whether or not the partnership is helping or hindering the goals the Society and AASM are trying to achieve. Some participants suggested establishing a working group to discuss the partnership’s future. With or without the partnership, the Society recognizes the need to establish its own identity. Related to Strategic Objective C-1, participants discussed the journal, noting the following points: The journal is losing money year after year. Participants agreed it may not make sense to continue as part of the partnership. Making the journal profitable is essential. Within the context of Strategic Objective C-1 and Strategic Objective C-4, “Proactively incorporate cutting-edge research into the meeting/journal,” participants discussed at length opportunities for meeting improvements. Suggestions included the following points: Be more proactive in setting the program – plan for and invite specific speakers. Increase integration of basic and clinical research while satisfying the needs of the individual constituencies; promote collaboration not compartmentalization. Make the meeting more training-centric. Strategic Objective C-2, “Develop an identity and contributions distinct from the partnership:” Recognizes that the Sleep Research Society has no identity apart from the meeting and the journal; it’s trumped by the academy and the partnership May include establishing separate meetings, in addition to the SLEEP meeting Additional meetings would achieve the following: Increase interaction between trainees and senior investigators. Serve those thirsty for in-depth science and discussion. Improve the Society’s image as a scientific leader. Strategic Objective C-3, “Develop new SRS meetings and forums:” Recognizes the need for a more small scale “feel”
Sleep Research Society Page 15 Is an opportunity to provide more trainee-centric presentations, some of which could include “unpublished” results Reflects opportunities to hold joint meetings or symposia with: European sleep group SRBR SFN and others Strategic Objective C-4, “Proactively incorporate cutting-edge research into the meeting/journal,” reflects all participants’ views that including the most up to date research is essential and: May require including “unpublished” results Is an opportunity to emphasize trainees’ progress May require revitalizing the reviewer pool Strategic Objective C-5, “Increase trainee research contributions at meetings and in the journal,” reflects the opportunity to revitalize and reenergize the journal and increase the amount of cutting-edge research shared.
Strategic Priority D, “Strengthen the quality of career development programs and services,” is supported by the following strategic objectives. Strategic Objective D-1, “Increase trainee selectivity,” reflects that “marks of distinction” vary across the different disciplines and depend on training level, from trainee to senior researcher. Strategic Objective D-2, “Target training opportunities to the appropriate trainee level,” recognizes that the training program is a significant part of the SRS brand identity and includes: Reevaluating the current training program Developing a trainee system Helping senior investigators apply for T32s; young investigators apply for Fs, Ks, and foundation grants Maximizing the impact of trainee day at the SLEEP meeting Funding to train non-clinician investigators Discussion about trainee day included the following points: There’s a need for a pipeline development committee that includes TEAC. The following are suggestions for consideration: Establish dedicated topics and hands-on opportunities. Invite experts outside of the sleep field to train. Strategic Objective D-3, “Improve metrics to measure success of training programs,” reflects the need to build accountability into all the Society’s training programs to ensure effectiveness and achieve continuous improvement. Strategic Objective D-4, “Develop cross-lab training opportunities:” Stresses development of expertise in new techniques (these opportunities were career-altering for some participants) Emphasizes longer-term investments (i.e., 10 days) Strategic Objective D-5, “Define and promote global trainee opportunities,” includes identifying and sharing mobility grants on the SRS website. Strategic Objective D-6, “Facilitate JR/SR networking and monitoring:” Emphasizes the focus on fostering interaction with senior researchers
Sleep Research Society Page 16 Is an opportunity to support trainees Is a way to keep excellent investigators in the sleep science field
Strategic Priority E, “Increase resources to achieve goals,” is supported by the following strategic objectives. Strategic Objective E-1, “Seek industry funding to train academic physicians in sleep research:” Focuses on clinicians, physicians, clinical researchers and basic researchers Would occur in the second fellowship year Could be done as an AASM partnership Strategic Objective E-2, “Seek funding to support training and education conferences,” emphasizes that training and education are a key benefit to members and need support. Strategic Objective E-3, “Seek funding to train non-clinician investigators,” reflects an opportunity for industry to support training. Strategic Objective E-4, “Increase membership revenue,” emphasizes the multiple opportunities to increase revenue, which includes increasing: Membership Dues Meeting attendance Strategic Objective E-5, “Identify new revenue streams,” reflects the need for revenue beyond the journal and the meeting in order to accomplish the Society’s goals. Strategic Objective E-6, “Develop financial plan to support priorities:” Emphasizes a focus on planning and accountability Reflects the need to make a difference with the limited resources of the Society
PARTNERSHIP AND IDENTITY Participants discussed at length the APSS partnership (AASM & SRS) as it relates to the Society’s identity and distinctiveness. Discussion included the following points. The Society currently doesn’t have an identity outside of its role in the annual meeting and journal. Participants discussed three possible options to pursue with regard to the partnership, which include: Dissolve the partnership. Continue to support the partnership but make changes that will benefit both parties. Continue the partnership and add separate Society-only initiatives. Comments to dissolve the partnership included: Some wonder if the partnership has run its course. Many were curious about what it would require to dissolve. The transition would probably take two years. The journal would be the hardest part. It was suggested that any resolution be determined within the next 18 months; prior to AASM leadership change. Comments in support of continuing the partnership included the following points:
Sleep Research Society Page 17 SRS recognizes that the relationship among the APSS Board is very collegial and would be easy to work through the challenges and define opportunities for the partnership. Many participants noted that significant value would be lost through dissolution; the field would be better off staying together. While the partnership has hindered the Society from establishing a strong, separate identity, many believe the Society can communicate current and create additional opportunities that set it apart. The partnership needs to be revisited and strengthened to benefit both parties. Everyone needs to get behind any resolution and commit to saving the annual meeting. APSS representatives noted that the APSS Board would be open to making changes to the annual meeting. Participants’ discussion regarding Society identity included the following points: Many participants view Society identity as the core issue. The Society must find ways to make unique contributions that provide value to membership and the field. A more robust meeting and journal will help the Society and the partnership. Specific comments related to the annual meeting include: Some view the needs of clinicians and basic researchers as vastly different and question how one meeting can feed both needs. Others point to organizations like the American Heart Association that are successfully doing both. Most participants agree it’s much better to remain integrated and promote collaboration among different sectors of sleep research. Next steps should include conducting the following in parallel: Improve what the Society currently has. Evaluate the benefit and viability of the partnership. Identify opportunities for additional scientific meetings and other initiatives that would help strengthen the Society’s identity.
IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
Setting Implementation Priorities The group prioritized the efforts to implement the strategic map during the next 12 months using two different approaches. First, it surveyed each person’s thinking on the allocation of the organization’s time and energy that should be devoted to each column of the map during the next 12 months. (100 points represents all the resources that will be spent on implementation.) A summary of each person’s input follows.
A B C D E 20 15 50 10 5 15 20 30 25 10 20 5 40 20 15
Sleep Research Society Page 18 A B C D E 20 20 20 20 20 10 20 40 20 10 13 7 50 20 10 30 15 30 10 15 15 15 40 15 15 15 35 20 30 10 5 30 25 25 15 0 30 50 20 0 0 20 50 20 10 20 10 50 10 10 5 15 50 15 15 15 15 40 20 10 30 20 0 10 40 10 30 30 10 20 0 0 80 20 0 0 0 100 0 0 10 20 40 20 10 5 20 50 20 5 0 10 50 40 0 20 20 20 20 20
278 392 955 420 265
Next, the group surveyed perceptions of which objectives on the map are the most important to emphasize during the next 12 months. Each person was given five votes, and a summary of the “straw vote” is depicted in the table below.
A B C D E 1 3 8 6 3 1 2 7 5 9 9 1 3 1 3 13 2 0 4 1 1 16 1 1
Sleep Research Society Page 19 A B C D E 5 3 2 5 1 0 6 X 1 X 2 7
These “straw polls” will provide guidance on the most important things for the Sleep Research Society to focus on as it proceeds with implementation planning.
Identifying Tracks of Work Stacey Zawel introduced the group to the concept of a “track of work.” A track of work is a single map objective or a group of related objectives that use the same resources. Tracks of work are a means of getting organized for implementation. Organizations generally focus on no more than three to five tracks in a 12-month implementation period.
Participants agreed that the following tracks of work should receive primary emphasis during the next 12 months.
DEFINE OUR UNIQUE IDENTITY AND CONTRIBUTIONS Strategic Objective C-2: Develop an identity and contributions distinct from the partnership. Strategic Objective C-1: Evaluate partnership benefit and viability.
PROACTIVELY INCORPORATE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH INTO SLEEP MEETING AND JOURNAL Strategic Objective C-4: Proactively incorporate cutting-edge research into the meeting/journal.
DEVELOP NEW SRS MEETINGS AND FORUMS Strategic Objective C-3: Develop new SRS meetings and forums.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS Strategic Objective D-2: Target training opportunities to the appropriate trainee level.
OPTIMIZE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND TOOLS Strategic Objective A-2: Determine optimal communication strategies and tools.
DEVELOP AND ALIGN FINANCIAL PLAN WITH PRIORITIES Strategic Objective E-6: Develop financial plan to support priorities.
MAINTAIN A LOBBYING PRESENCE Strategic Objective B-1: Maintain a Washington D.C. lobbying presence.
Developing Preliminary Implementation Plans Participants met in small groups to begin developing implementation plans for each track of work. A summary of the small group reports follows.
Sleep Research Society Page 20 DEFINE OUR IDENTITY AND UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION
The draft implementation planning worksheet for the “Define Our Identity and Unique Contribution” track of work can be accessed by double-clicking on the icon below.
Define our Unique Identity and Contributions Worksheet 1.docx
Notes It’s essential that the SRS “playground” is defined. Identify and scope are essential to define. Defining who we are needs to come before knowing what to do. The Society needs to embrace a broad membership and determine how to best serve the specialized needs within this broad membership.
PROACTIVELY INCORPORATE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH INTO THE SLEEP MEETING AND JOURNAL
The draft implementation planning worksheet for the “Proactively Incorporate Cutting- Edge Research into the SLEEP Meeting and Journal” track of work can be accessed by double-clicking on the icon below.
Proactively incorporate cutting-edge research into SLEEP and Journal.docx
Notes Needs include: Include unopposed poster viewing Survey non-attendees to see if they get the information about the meeting Target a plan at Club Hypnose-SFN.
DEVELOP NEW SRS MEETINGS AND FORUMS
The draft implementation planning worksheet for the “Develop New SRS Meetings and Forums” track of work can be accessed by double-clicking on the icon below.
Develop New SRS Meetings and Forums Worksheet 1.docx
Notes If partners are interested, then develop joint meetings. An independent conference would have to have the level of excellence of a Gordon/Keystone/Cold Stone Harbor quality.
Sleep Research Society Page 21 Create a set of hands-on training courses with partners for re-tooling of mid-level investigators. Develop a satellite series of SRS events. Establish a standing “scientific offerings” committee Society to continue to define new opportunities for improvements to focus on: Improve the current meeting. Build partnerships for new meetings. Build new SRS meetings. Establish new tracks within the existing meeting. Participants agreed that this is too much work for one committee, but a steering committee could be established to oversee this and other work to ensure alignment across all. Discussion about developing a trainee program included the following points: An in-depth training for a smaller group of people is needed. This could be a two week trainee opportunity - not one to five days. The program would be extraordinarily selective. The appropriate trainee would be at an advanced stage of training – could be junior/senior faculty. Funding could be sought through NIH or Howard Hughes Participants discussed the overlap with the training track of work and agreed that someone from the Training Opportunities and Programs track of work should be involved so that similar interests are considered. It was agreed that a formal way for the track to interact would be built into the structure.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS
The draft implementation planning worksheet for the “Training Opportunities and Programs” track of work can be accessed by double-clicking on the icon below.
Training Opportunites and Programs.docx
OPTIMIZE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND TOOLS
The draft implementation planning worksheet for the “Optimize Communication Strategies and Tools” track of work can be accessed by double-clicking on the icon below.
Optimize Communication Strategies and Tools.docx
Sleep Research Society Page 22 Notes The Society needs a thoughtful way to decide what should be communicated to members It’s important to make sure there is a process for getting information out to members The membership committee could partner with TEAC to determine the optimal communication strategies. Input by the November Board meeting is essential. An app could be developed linking to the existing RSS feed; would not be too difficult.
NEXT STEPS At the conclusion of the meeting, the group identified the following next steps.
TSI’s Next Steps TSI will provide the following documents to Allan Pack for distribution to session participants. The strategic map
A “presentation” version of the strategic map
A protocol for the communications session
A comprehensive meeting summary of the strategic planning session
Communicating the Strategic Plan A key aspect of the strategic planning process is communicating the draft strategic plan to key constituents and securing their feedback on it. The strategic planning group will develop a video presenting the strategic plan and provide a link on the Society website. Feedback will be solicited from membership based on the following questions: What do you see as the strengths of the proposed strategic direction? What issues or concerns do you have about the proposed strategic direction? What suggestions do you have to ensure successful implementation?
Following the input received during the communications sessions, leadership will revise the strategic map as appropriate.
Implementation Planning Implementation plans will be finalized by the November Board meeting. Implementation begins immediately thereafter.
“Review and Adjust” Process Stacey Zawel outlined the following as possible elements of a review and adjust process for the Society. Use regular leadership meetings for: Implementation updates Resolution of implementation issues/problems
Sleep Research Society Page 23 Conduct periodic review and adjust sessions two or three times during the year that include:
Review of progress with implementation of each track of work, including: Accomplishments Issues/problems/gaps Lessons learned Next steps Reviewing the strategic map and implementation plans, making needed adjustments as necessary
Complete an annual strategy update session – which is typically a one-day session to:
Review progress on implementation.
Update the strategic map based on:
What was learned from implementation
What’s working and what isn’t
How the environment has changed
Set implementation priorities for the next 12 months.
Align budget and human resources.
CLOSING Allan Pack thanked everybody for their time, wisdom and commitment and made the following closing remarks. Allan’s remarks can be accessed by double-clicking on the icon below.
SRS Strategic Planning Retreat--Closing (10 14) Allan Pack.pptx
Sleep Research Society Page 24