The Need for a Strategic Plan
Although the 7th International Conference at Nottingham was a success and despite efforts there to promote an increase in Society membership, the number of subscription renewals has gradually fallen. At their January 1995 meeting, the Directors recognized that a new initiative was required if the Society was to survive and to realize its undoubted potential. An ad hoc Committee met at Portland, Oregon, in March 1995 to prepare a preliminary Strategic Plan, which addressed key issues in a structured way.
In 1996, the Society adopted a Strategic Plan to promote and expand its activities. During the course of the year 2000, the Directors considered it timely to review the plan in the context of the role which, they considered, the Society can realistically play over the next ten years. This new role is more focused and less wide-ranging and it recognizes how the principal goals and ideals can best be preserved and delivered in the future in partnership with other asphalt pavement organizations around the world.
The ‘Strategic Plan’ therefore, builds on previous experience, renewed discussions, and recommendations. The vision and mission statements, as well as the strategic elements, are outlined in the following:
Vision Statement
ISAP is and will continue to be the international forum for asphalt paving technology enhancement and information exchange.
Mission Statement
ISAP encourages and promotes research and development and technology exchange in asphalt paving technology at the international level. It provides, through its international conferences and themed symposia, each at four-year intervals, the major forum for dissemination of the latest technical information in this field.
Strategic Elements
The role of ISAP must be clearly defined to the international pavement community. ISAP must gain the “high ground” in such a way that members will agree that membership is valuable, thus securing the future of ISAP and it’s direction. This plan, then, is driven by:
- Organization of the Ann Arbor-style, international conferences at intervals of four years.
- Organization of a series of symposia on specific themes, also to be held every four years.
- Continuation of the ‘Distinguished Lecturer’ initiative.
- Improved exploitation of the web site to provide a global link among the regional pavement technology interest groups and stakeholders.
- Introduction of a corporate membership, allowing organizations to provide membership benefits for a fixed number of employees.
- Development of productive relationships with the major asphalt pavement associations to ensure mutual benefit from each other’s activities.
- Improvement to the Society’s newsletter through the establishment of an Editorial Board.
- Development of a technical information database in cooperation with other organizations.
