An analysis of why strategic planning is important for homeland security organizations

There are numerous organizations under the department of homeland security. These organizations play a vital role in the development of security strategies by the department of homeland security. These strategies are aimed at ensuring that the country is safe and always protected against issues that affect the American citizens such as terrorist attacks and prepare the public incase of natural disasters. According to Dalton (2002), “a key component in integrating homeland security missions and activities is the national homeland security strategy which articulates activities that must be accomplished or coordinated to improve the nation’s homeland security”. The national strategy for homeland security was released in 2002 after thorough consultation across the country and had three specific objectives. These were, preventing terrorist attacks within the country, reduce the vulnerability of America to terrorism and lessen damages caused by attacks through emergency preparedness and response.

The president, congress and the organizations under the department of homeland security hold frequent meetings to discuss the best ways to protect the country against external attacks. In the meetings, favorable contributions are made by the representatives of these organizations in their efforts to offer superior defense to the country. Some of the contributions include issuing advisories, interactions between the department of homeland security and the concerned organizations and ensuring that their security systems. In addition, an assessment of critical infrastructure and key assets is conducted through the collaboration of the department of homeland security and the organizations (White 2006).

Terrorist activity can be detected through intelligent and preventative action. This is done by the secret service and the preparedness directorate. The officers undergo meticulous training on the steps to take when preempting a terrorist attack on American soil. This training is part of the strategic planning process that aims at improving performance and meeting overall organizational goals and objectives. The training initiative is an important aspect of the strategy, which is why it is included in the department’s budget. After the training, they are able to detect terrorist activity before it manifests itself in an attack and this will improve the security of the nation. The training will also ensure that they are prepared incase of an attack in terms of response and recovery process.

Strategic planning also involves heightened security along the borders and transportation. Terrorists are known for using the borders to deliver some of their implements of destruction. Illegal immigrants are also used by terrorists to deliver illegal narcotics into the United States. The borderline security will inspect every vehicle that gets into the country and that illegal immigrants have the correct documentation for being in the country. Laxity by the border police will not be tolerated as this will put the country at jeopardy and consequently endanger the lives of millions of people. The security will ensure that there is reliable and efficient flow of people and goods across borders to prevent further terrorist attacks (White 2006).

There are cases of terrorists arrested within the country. The department of homeland security through its strategic plans will ensure that these terrorists are prosecuted together with their accomplices. This process is referred to as domestic counterterrorism. This will reduce the rate of their attacks on unsuspecting innocent Americans. The efforts to know the whereabouts of the terrorists will require the local authorities to work together with homeland security. This combined endeavor will guarantee a reduction in the number of terrorists in the country. Most times the terrorists live among people without their knowledge. Therefore, the citizens have to be careful with whom they associate and they should report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods to the local authorities.

Technology, as part of the homeland security national strategy, will be improved so that any illegal activities will be detected early by the operational end users. Through the technical superiority, fresh capabilities will be developed to enhance the sharing of information especially between the department of homeland security, the private sectors, international organizations and the American citizens. The technological advancements will play an imperative role in securing the homeland through the detection and prevention of illegal transportation of radiological materials, etc. this will help in the anticipation, response and recovery from any attacks on the country (Caudle 2006).

Homeland security is also responsible for the security of the economy. This includes protecting the country’s currency and financial payment systems. Through joint efforts of the department of homeland security and local law enforcement partners, crimes against the security and stability of the financial systems are investigated. International drug traffickers weaken the country’s economy through their illicit money laundering activities. These traffickers finance terrorist activities in their countries that greatly destabilize the economy. The department of homeland security and its organizations will arrest and prosecute drug traffickers in order to take away their ability to fund unlawful activities (Dacey 2002).

In the event of disasters, the department of homeland security needs to ensure continuity of government operations. This will necessitate their partnerships with federal agencies and departments in order to secure the operations of the government in times of national disasters by providing substitute communications equipment and facilities. This will ensure that the government can continue to perform its constitutional functions of governing the nation as stated in the constitution. During the September 11 attack on the twin towers, communication between the government and the entire nation was disrupted because American citizens were caught off guard by the attack. The departments of homeland national strategy of 2002 ensured that this would never happen again.

The department of homeland security insists on preparedness and mitigation as vital elements of reducing the effects of terrorism and other harmful incidents. The preparedness strategy incorporates all state and local governments and communities in training and assistance for confederacy in working together when disaster strikes. The private sector will also be involved in the preparedness strategy to help in the creation of awareness and sustaining a national preparedness movement to all citizens. The private sector will run the vulnerability and risk management programs throughout the country to reduce the vulnerability of the country to terrorist activities and other disasters.

Disasters can strike at any time; they can be fabricated or natural. When this happens, the department of homeland security works together with its partners to ensure that the country is capable of recovering quickly. Through strategic planning, they are able to provide favorable and apposite assistance to people following terrorist attacks or other emergencies. According to Dacey (2002), this is made possible through recognizing the distinctive requirements for successful recovery from cataclysmic disasters. This assistance strategy has been availed in all state and local governments to help in managing and mitigation of local emergencies through the provision of professional leaders who are able to deal with varying disaster levels.

Laws are used to safeguard the security and autonomy of a nation. Federal and local laws dictate the limitation of certain action to individuals and groups. The department of homeland security and the local government ensures that appropriate laws are administered effectively in order to achieve its goals and objectives of protecting the nation and its citizens. These goals will be achieved through the legislation of balance in personal freedom, rights, and security of the country.

Terrorism has no respect for borders; it is carried out world-over. The strategic plan of the department of homeland security involves its partnerships with international organizations and countries in an effort to realize its goals and objectives. The nation pursues a resolute international agenda to counteract the international terrorist peril and advance America’s security. This anti-terrorism campaign will need the unrelenting commitment of the international community and the American people in defeating acts of terrorism everywhere in the world. This collaboration will lessen the effects of terrorism, not only in America bit in the world.

The strategies of the department of homeland security have the best interests for the country and its citizens. Nevertheless, implementation of these strategies does not come without its challenges. According to Dalton (2002), this strategy would be most effective if it included clear definitions of measurable objectives, clarifications of responsibilities among federal agencies, affordable long-term budget priorities and addressed management capabilities and accountability. The strategic objectives lack targeted performance levels that define the department of homeland security’s level of preparedness.

Given by the fact that the department of homeland security is in partnerships with numerous agencies, there are varying levels of authority in terms of making and implementing decisions. There needs to be clear clarification over the responsibilities of the different agencies because the national issues are immense and agencies would want to outdo one another. This will display the poor understanding of the roles and tasks in coordination of handling terrorism and other disasters. Homeland security has to define to each partnering agency its roles and responsibilities in the fight against terrorism and disasters.

The technological advancements are slow. This means that information and data that is received is not processed hastily therefore flooding the system. This can give way to numerous attacks on the country’s information technology system and the allow terrorists to carryout their unscrupulous acts without the knowledge of homeland security. The information technology team at the department of homeland security needs to incorporate help from legendary computer experts in their efforts to protect the system and the country.

Sharon Caudle (2008) talks about the use of the balanced scorecard by the department of homeland security in their strategy implementation process in four main perspectives; customer, financial, innovation and learning and internal business. The scorecard ensures that the concerns of the customers, Americans in this case, are met and addressed. The scorecard guarantees financial improvement in the organization. The internal business category entails the steps that should be taken to improve the performance of homeland security and the partnering agencies. Finally, the innovation and learning perspective will help homeland security to measure its ability to launch new methods of protecting the country against external and internal attacks.

The strategic planning of the department of homeland security involves training of all its personnel. Effective implementation of training in the department is insufficient. This is because the department lacks adequate resources to realize this implementation process. Defined training approaches in the department have to be adopted by the training coaches in all components. However, it is important to note that some components of the department of homeland security demonstrate impressive fundamentals of strategic practice by developing proper training performance procedures and targets and identifying specific authority in all involved parties in the training programs.

Reference

Dalton, P. A., United States, & United States. (2002). Homeland security: Effective intergovernmental coordination is key to success : statement of Patricia A. Dalton, Director, Strategic Issues, before the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management, and Intergovernmental Relations, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: U.S. General Accounting Office.

Dacey, R. F., & United States. (2002). Critical infrastructure protection: Significant homeland security challenges need to be addressed. Washington, D.C.: U.S. General Accounting Office.

White, J. R. (2006). Terrorism and homeland security. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning.

n.a (September 23 2005). Strategic Management of Training Important for Successful Transformation. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-05-888

Caudle, S. (October 2006). Basic Practices Aiding High-Performance Homeland Security Regional Partnerships. Homeland Security Affairs, 2(3). Retrieved from http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=2.3.7

Caudle, S. (October 2008). The Balanced Scorecard: A Strategic Tool in Implementing Homeland Security Strategies. Homeland Security Affairs, 4(3). Retrieved from http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=4.3.2