A User Guide to the Department of Commerce Strategic Plan 2026-2031


The Department of Commerce Strategic Plan is built on a clear, "cascading framework" that connects high-level aspirations directly to the daily work of the agency. This guide is designed to help you easily understand how the plan is structured and how the Department translates its biggest goals into real-world results.

The plan is broken down into four easily understandable tiers:

1. Mission & Vision: The "Why"

At the very top of the framework are the foundational principles. They define what the Department aims to achieve (the Mission) and what the future will look like when they succeed (the Vision).

  • The Vision: The Department envisions a Utah where commercial activities operate fairly and efficiently.
  • How it is Achieved: The Department builds trust in commerce by facilitating reliable regulation, enforcing rules effectively, and empowering the public and customers through education.

2. Critical Success Factors (CSFs): The Key Themes

To achieve the mission, the Department focuses on Critical Success Factors (CSFs).

  • These are high-level pillars that serve as the major themes of the strategic vision.
  • By organizing the plan around two primary CSFs, the Department ensures its attention is focused on the most critical elements for long-term success.

3. Objectives: The "What" for the Long Term

Beneath the CSFs are the specific Objectives. These are ambitious, broad, and long-term goals that define exactly what significant changes and results the Department aims to accomplish.

  • The Focus Statement: To ensure these long-term goals are easily understood by the public, each Objective includes a "Focus Statement". This is a plain-language summary explaining the specific theme the Department is prioritizing.

4. Strategies, Tactics, and Performance Plans: The "How" for the Short Term

This level represents the active, "boots on the ground" work that turns the long-term Objectives into reality.

  • Strategies represent shorter-term, often annual, action plans that move the needle forward.
  • The Goal Statement: Every Strategy includes a simple description of the "Win"— the actual, tangible result the Department expects to see once the work is done.

To execute these Strategies, the Department separates the required work into two distinct categories:

  • Breakthrough Tactics: These are the new, transformative, and time-limited initiatives that are specifically highlighted in the strategic plan. Department employees have specific performance goals tied directly to executing these new tactics.
  • Core Performance: This represents the essential "daily work" that maintains the agency's baseline operations. While these daily tasks might not be listed as brand-new "breakthroughs," they are still an integral part of the strategic plan. Every employee's core performance adds value to the priorities of the Department, ensuring that all levels of the agency are pulling in the same direction to strengthen trust in Utah’s commerce.