An Analysis Of Strategy Plan On Business Performance Of A Water Utility

Strategy -- Strategic management process -- Water challenges -- Water resource management -- Water utilities.

Faced with the challenges of strained resources, ageing infrastructure and new forms of competition, water utilities must adopt a strategic business perspective, similar to ones that characterize successful business organizations. This reports discusses the many implications and demonstrates integration of the strategic planning process into annual planning. Coverage includes expectations of consumers, policy boards, state and federal guidelines and funding, competitive issues, long and short term options, planning, collaboration, prioritizing and communications.

In 2000, three trends papers, grouped as societal, business, and utility categories, were written to provide context for expert workshops. These trend documents were updated and compiled into a single trend document that provides the data supporting the trend as well as potential implications for the trends. This critical briefing document was created to prepare participants for a Futures Workshop. The workshop identified the most important trends and strategies. The study resulted in six trend papers that were published in Journal AWWA. This study will provide water utility managers with current strategic planning information to help develop strategies for future utility success. The trend papers can serve as resource documents to identify the environmental factors that will affect a given utility in the future. Other local factors must also be considered, but the trends documented here will likely be in play at most utilities. The results of the research can comprise a significant part of the "environmental scan" element of traditional strategic planning as well as give guidance to water utilities regarding potential strategies to better position the utility for future success.

This manual of practice covers public water utility management, designed for new managers, accountants, and supervisors. Second edition.

In 1999, AwwaRF conducted a project entitled Strategic Assessment of the Future of Water Utilities, which examined the societal, business, and utility trends shaping the water utility industry through a scenario-planning exercise. National and international utility managers identified key trends, attributes of success, and success strategies that were likely to be most effective in several potential future scenarios. Feedback from subscribers and other AwwaRF stakeholders indicated that this project was extremely useful to the water supply industry. Trends and scenarios developed by the researcher provided useful tools and resources to utility planners and managers. The project findings were used substantially in AwwaRF research planning. It has been five years since the initiation of that project, and several new trends have developed in the meantime. Updating the trends analysis and reevaluating the implications for water utilities would help utility managers adjust and optimize their organizational planning strategy.

Effective water and wastewater utility mgmt. can help utilities respond to both current and future challenges. Based on these challenges, the EPA and 6 nat. water and wastewater assoc. signed an historic agreement in 2007 to jointly promote effective utility mgmt. based on the ¿Ten Attributes of Effectively Managed Water Sector Utilities¿ and 5 ¿Keys to Management Success.¿ This Primer is an outgrowth of that agreement and distills the experience of a group of leaders in water and wastewater utility mgmt. into a framework intended to help utility managers identify and address their most pressing needs through a customized, incremental approach that is relevant to the day-to-day challenges utilities face. Illustrations.

Water and Wastewater companies operating all around the world have faced rising asset management and replacement costs, often to levels that are financially unsustainable. Management of investment needs, while meeting regulatory and other goals, has required: A better understanding of what customers demand from the services they pay for, and the extent to which they are willing to pay for improvements or be compensated for a reduction in performance Development of models to predict asset failure and to identify and concentrate investment on critical assets Improved management systems Improved accounting for costs and benefits and their incorporation within an appropriate cost-benefit framework Incorporation of risk management techniques Utilisation of advanced maintenance techniques including new rehabilitation failure detection technologies Enhancements in pipeline materials, technologies and laying techniques. These papers developed from LESAM 2007 for inclusion in Strategic Asset Management of Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructures are focused on the techniques, technologies and management approaches aiming at optimising the investment in infrastructure while achieving demanded customer service standards, and they provide an opportunity to gain access to the latest discussion and developments at the leading-edge in this field. This book will be essential reading for utility operators and managers, regulators and consultants.