How To: Submit an Update

Updates are the most important part of your strategic plan; they’re how we keep track of our progress, highlight the hard work we’re doing, and share challenges we’re experiencing. It’s important to understand your organization’s update schedule and stay on top of your updates when they’re due.

Pending Updates

To submit an update to your plan elements, you need to access the Submit Updates area of the application. There are a few ways to do so:

1. Envisio will send automated notifications before updates are due, via email. These notifications provide a direct link to the Submit Updates page.
2. Log into the system and click the plan level for which you need to provide updates in the Plans Pending Updates dashlet on the homepage.
   
   Or click on the chevrons to expand plan levels to see individual plan elements that require an update. 
   
3. Log into Envisio and navigate directly to the Submit Updates page 

Submit Updates Page

Assigned Plan elements and Filters

Once on the Submit Updates page, you’ll see a listing of plan elements you own, contribute to, or are listed as an observer on. Items in this page are organized by plan levels. 

The quick filters at the top of the page allow you to narrow down the results you see on the left side of the page. For example, use the name quick filter to see only elements you own. There is also a search box to search for keyword descriptions, or a filter icon to access advanced filter settings.

Submitting your update

To submit your update, select the plan element you want to update from the list on the left side of the page. The right side of the page will refresh with the details for the selected plan element. Click into the Updates section to enter your narrative update, set the progress and status, and check off checklist items (if applicable).

1. Input your narrative update. See some tips below on how to write a great update!
   • The current reporting period can be found just above the narrative update box, for reference.
   • Use the Copy From button at top right to copy in the last update, for reference, if it helps you write a great update.w
   • The Update Date box at the top right allows you to manually set the date on which your update is entered.
2. If your action has a checklist, check off any items that have been completed.
   • If the checklist is weighted, this will automatically move the progress bar as you check items off the list once the update is submitted. To learn more about checklists, review this article.
3. Set the Status of your action using the drop-list.
   • Set the Progress slider, if applicable. Note that progress sliders will only be available for Actions with defined start and end dates.
4. Click the orange Submit Update button at the bottom. Note that this button will be grey until the system recognizes you’ve entered an update.
   

Update Considerations

1. Craft your update thoughtfully. Take a moment to reflect on your progress, and avoid using jargon, acronyms, or internal language.
   • If you use Copy From, make sure you re-write and summarize the entries - don’t just leave it as is! This is meant for reference only.
   • If you check items off from a checklist, summarize those actions in words; don’t just leave the checked items in your narrative update.
   • Summarize lower-level updates when writing Goal and Strategy updates. Use Copy from lower levels to see what was written below.
2. Provide an appropriate amount of detail in your update. Aim for 3-5 sentences at most, mentioning your recent accomplishments, challenges you’re facing, and next steps you intend to take.
3. Use the power of AI Assist to help refine and create your update. Read more about AI Assist here
4. Checklists can impact Progress. Weighted checklists will automatically move the progress slider as you check items off.
5. If you don’t see a Progress slider, it’s likely because your element doesn’t have start and end dates.
6. Only the lowest plan level has Status and Progress. Goals and Strategies only require narrative updates; their status and progress values roll-up from the lower levels.