Strategic plan Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2005

Doerner, John; Stops, Michael; Afraid, Cathy; Deernose, Kitty; Woody, Ken; Hergenrider, Lonnie

The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Strategic Plan was written to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act. Following is a brief overview of that law, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1993. It should be noted however, that the Strategic Plan is much more than just a response to legislative mandate. The law was a catalyst that caused Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument staff to reexamine its fundamental mission and take a fresh, long range view in terms of what results or outcomes it needed to achieve more effectively and efficiently to accomplish that mission. It caused us to reexamine the present condition of the natural and cultural resources in our care, the current status of our visitor services, and the existing fiscal, human, and other resources at our command to do our job. It pushed our sights above the usual daily focus on activities and products to take in the bigger picture of where we are and where we want to be. It encouraged us to think and plan in new ways. The effort wasn’t easy, and was even painful at times. The results however, will be better planning, better management, and better communication with all of our constituencies and stakeholders, as well amongst our selves, about who we are, where we need to be, and how we are going to get there.