Rethinking Strategy

CHAPTER 12‘Now what?’ — Transitioning to the future

Integration with internal processes is essential to scenario relevance and organisational action

This chapter is dedicated to the memory of John Murrell, who sadly passed away in June 2016. John was President of the Public Libraries Victoria Network from 2009 to 2016 and was much loved by the Victorian public library community, for whom he has created a lasting legacy.

John Murrell (right) and myself at the launch of the Victorian Public Libraries 2030 Strategic Framework, June 2013

I first met John Murrell in April 2012 during the interview phase of the Victorian Public Libraries 2030 project. A quietly spoken and unassuming man, John made an instant impression with his thoughts on the possible futures of public libraries. It was John who introduced me to the concept of recording studios in Scandinavian public libraries I mentioned in chapter 8. As President of the Public Libraries Victoria Network (PLVN), the peak body for Victoria’s public library sector and a co-sponsor of the project, John was respected throughout the industry and was a leader who influenced through collaboration.

While he was a significant contributor throughout the project, it was during the execution phase of the strategic framework that John’s leadership qualities came to the fore as an internal driving force behind implementation of the framework’s ...