Date

12-7-2025

ESRP 9000 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Bringing Out the Best of a Child Care Center From the Inside. Gabrielle Cannon, 2025: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: child care director, competition, licensure, productivity, strategic planning, and subsidy

This strategic research project was designed to assist a local daycare center with developing a comprehensive analysis and strategic roadmap to strengthen its competitive position in the saturated child care market. The purpose of the project was to develop a solution driven by data aligned with the internal culture and external reputation of the child care center. Utilizing analysis of the center’s 40 strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, internal and external factor evaluations, and a quantitative strategic planning matrix, the project solution is designed to move the organization from operating reactively to proactively. The ultimate problem was the center’s lack of clear direction, resulting from the absence of clearly defined mission and vision statements. This problem has affected the center’s ability to meet the requirements for licensure and inhibited its eligibility to receive state and federal subsidies.

Four potential solutions were researched; embedding the vision and mission into all organizational communications to develop internal alignment and cascade communication was selected. The first action phase is the development of new vision and mission statements. This is followed by a kick-off workshop for leaders and staff to launch the new strategic direction and integrate the vision and mission into all daily operations and human resources processes. The final, and ongoing phase involves the utilization of continuous feedback and reinforcement to leverage public recognition and ensure the center’s long-term sustainability and productivity.

Prioritizing collaboration, stakeholder ownership, and embedding core values into all human resources documentation should generate internal data to be used for feedback, monitoring staff, and also recognizing employees who exemplify the mission and foster a cohesive, purpose-driven, and competitive work culture.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Curriculum and Teaching

Language

English

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