An Innovative Method for Evaluating Strategic Goals in a Public Agency

This article presents an innovative methodology for evaluating strategic planning goals in a public agency. Computer-coded content analysis was used to evaluate attitudes expressed in about 28,000 on-line news media stories about the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and its strategic goal of conservation leadership. Three dimensions of conservation leadership were distinguished and evaluated separately: stewardship and ethics, use of collaborative planning and decision making, and use of science-based management. Analysis of on-line news media text is a way to quickly and efficiently assess the views of a wide range of stakeholders captured in the news media.