Cartoon 7.

1 Dilbert on strategic planning

The cartoon illustrates the idea of strategic planning which involves a degree of

uncertainty as information is readily available. Strategic planning is a process used by

agencies to assess their situation and determine a strategy for the future (LeMay 2006,

183). Strategic management may be difficult for managers that are not capable of

developing a plan that addresses issues concerning agency missions. The cartoon

points to a critical factor in strategic planning, the inadequacy of data which agency

executives are challenged with. In order to strategize a comprehensive plan for the

agency’s future, the authoritative body needs to apply the strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities and threat (SWOT) analysis technique. In addition agency flexibility is also

valued as agency resources must accommodate for potential crises, environmental,

economic, technological, political and social changes.

Cartoon 7.2 Man was not meant to crawl

The cartoon depicts a traffic jam where cars are “bumper-to-bumper” and a drive is

protesting with a sign boldly saying “Man Was Not Born To Crawl”. The issue at concern

here is that the public’s demand for a service from a public agency are underestimated

and it is difficult to meet such demands. “The actual provision of a good or service can

bring about vast changes in public demand that quickly outstrips the public agency’s

capability to meet” (LeMay 2006, 188). Highway planners attempt to construct freeways

which are able to meet the public’s demand for such an expressway, yet the new

changes cause immediate demand for newer roads. As roads are constructed, the
public use of those paths increase and are outdated rapidly. Administrative planning is

almost always insufficient when public demand increases at such a quick rate.

Strategic planning is difficult to accomplish as the agencies in charge of developing a

strategy that is challenged with lack of information and uncertainty from the

environmental, economic, political and social factors. Administrators involved with

decision making and strategic planning must apply the SWOT technique and

incorporate flexibility with agency resources to meet the future demands. Public

agencies are given charge for highway construction plan for a certain capacity limit, yet

public demands immediately past the limitations and planning becomes inadequate.

Both cartoons exemplify the importance of strategic planning and the variables the

public agencies are challenged with.

Word Cited:

Lemay, M.C. 2006. Public Administration: Clashing Values in the Administration of

Public Policy (2 Ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.