The major problem with strategic planning

The major problem with strategic planning is the failure to implement. The answer is not to abandon strategic planning. Rather we should look at changing the process we use to develop our strategic plans. When we think of strategic planning...

The many forms of strategic management – part 2

In Part 1 I outlined five approaches to strategy development: Mission-based strategy. Vision-based strategy. Environment-based strategy. Resource-based strategy. Capability-based strategy. While these are useful in understanding the various ways of looking at strategy development, for many organizations there is a...

The many forms of strategic management – part 1

Most of us rarely take the time to sit back and think about our organization and in which direction we want to take it. We have enough on our plate so we leave the concept of thinking about the future...

Strategy development is more than a group hug

Your current strategic plan is up for review. A date is set, the board, or a designated sub-committee and the Executive Director (or equivalent staff person) get together for the purpose of setting the future direction for the organization. So,...

Coping with change

As human beings, we all have a certain amount of neophobia - the fear of something new. Changes can be frightening, confusing, as well as rewarding and valuable. Change can bring out the best and worst in people, depending on...

Strategic planning in times of uncertainty

The times, they are a changing. The only real constant is change itself. These are both sayings we have heard before. They reference the pace and speed of change. With everything changing so fast and in ways that we have...

Strategy by projection or creation?

Should strategic planning be a projected or creative process? Is there one right way to develop organizational strategy? Are some organizations better suited to adopting one approach rather than another? Projection and creation can be considered philosophically different approaches to...

Linking strategy to operations

A strategic plan provides a guideline for the effective allocation of resources that help improve the probability of achieving specific goals & objectives. Through discussions with many organizations we have found that although they develop a strategic plan, many have...

Team-building exercises

Team-building exercises are simply tools used to create solidarity in a group - to allow group members to know each other better, and to have a fun experience as a team. These exercises can be used in a variety of...

Making competitive analysis part of your strategic plan

We all know that competitive analysis represents an integral part of the for-profit organization's strategic planning processes. In the for-profit world organizations undertake competitive analysis because they are often competing for the same customer group in a particular geographic region...