The following case studies are representative of projects conducted by the  Center for Strategic Change (C4SC).

The Center for Strategic Change recently completed a landmark project guiding five nonprofit human service agencies through a Collaboration and Consolidation Study. Judy Whalen designed the study and facilitated the process. The study included an Inter-Agency Assessment, a Financial Audit of each ageny, a study of five different collaboration options, a study of legal options, strategic thinking sessions with the Executive Directors and Boards of Directors, development of  proposed model, focus groups to test the model, a financial proforma and presentation of progress to each board. As a result of the Collaboration Study, four of the agencies decided to merge. The Center for Strategic Change facilitated the merger approval process. This included presenting the proposed merger model to the four Boards; facilitating strategic thinking sessions to plan for communicating with funders, employees, donors and volunteers; guiding the Executive Directors through a process to understand each other's strengths and how to best leverage their unique talents and skills; working with financial and legal advisors to finalize bylaws and required documents; and designing and launching the new governance structure and new staff leadership model.

The Center for Strategic Change has been a strategic advisor to the CEO, the Board andmanagement team of this regional community health center and community health system for over ten years. The Center began working with the community health center shortly after its launch.  Projects included board of director development, consulting with the CEO, conducting  its first strategic planning process, stakeholder survey, leadership team training, and its second strategic planning process and growth strategy.  The outcome of these projects is that the community health center grew, became financially stable, added dental services, increased its’ dental capacity from four chairs to 17 chairs,  increased and diversified its medical staff, built a solid organizational structure, expanded the facility three times, added sites in three other cities, and launched the Regional Health Systems entity to be the umbrella organization that continues the growth and expansion of community health sites to areas with need. C4SC is continuing to work with the health system at the present time.  CFSC is preparing to conduct the third round of strategic planning and consulting for the team development.

State Agency Interactive Website

The WHALEN Center for Strategic Change recently completed a “fast-track” project for a state WorkforceDevelopment agency to conduct market research on the proposed virtual Job Center Website.  The project entailed recruiting participants for two focus groups, conducting the focus groups and drafting reports. Throughout the project, C4SC worked closely with state agency staff as they created two proposed designs, drafting questions for an Interview Guide, meeting demographic criteria for participants, demonstrating the final version of the proposed website and soliciting feedback from focus group participants and providing recommendations for future software releases.

Non-profit Grant Funding Entity

The  Center for Strategic Change faciliated a strategic thinking project for a large nonprofit grant- fundin g entity that funds state-wide programs submitted by organizations working to prevent child abuse.  The project involved facilitating strategic thinking sessions with the Grant Review Committee to examine its effectiveness as a funder of programs and to re-evaluate its overall mission and scope.  Project activities have included:  project design, conducting focus groups, designing online surveys, conducting phone interviews, producing reports, facilitating the strategic thinking sessions and interacting with the director and program director.

International Trade Association/Professional Society

The  Center for Strategic Change facilitated three “long-term planning sessions for an international trade association.  This included planning the agenda and documents to be presented with representatives of the Executive Committee and Board, facilitating the session (40+ participants), reviewing the report summaries, interacting with the staff and interacting with participants from different countries speaking different languages.

The WHALEN Center for Strategic Change designed and facilitated an economic development plan for a city. The project included coordinating the Planning Team meetings, conducting focus groups, surveys, interactingwith the regional Small Business Development Center, securing a keynote speaker, facilitating a day-long Economic Development Summit, producing reports, presenting reports to the Economic Development Committee, launching task forces to develop action strategies and interacting with the Mayor and City Administrator.