Planning for success: the first steps in new program development

New program development can be an exciting endeavor when the outcomes are successful. The opportunities for success are increased when an initial four-step planning process is emphasized prior to implementing specific programmatic efforts. This four-step process is called the "pre-start up plan." Included are: mission statement clarification, a stakeholder analysis, problem identification, and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. None of this is difficult to accomplish, and it provides important input to the design of a successful new program.