Copy of Chapter 14: Strategic Planning

“A great strategy meeting is a meeting of minds.” -Max McKeown

Strategic Planning is the method or plan chosen to bring about desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem. Think through and decide on direction you want to take to achieve the desired results over a period in a systematic way. Normally it is done for a three-year time frame. You need to dream and travel through to create a strategy.

Let us take an example: In your life you set a goal that even after retirement you would like to lead a lifestyle which live today. You need to travel all through in your mind whole of the professional life till you retire and decide on what kind of financial stability you want to have and in what type of home you want to live. Then based on the analysis set the goal(s) and prepare yourself to work on it. It may be saving money for the future, find the right kind of financial planner/advisor and then decide on the amount you can afford to save month on month. Draw a sketch of the dream house, work with builders and architect to realize the dream with the budget which does not exceed your earnings/loan re-paying capacity. As said earlier, Strategic planning is to realize your dream, what you want in the future and start working on it from today. For organization, these steps are very much true, decide on how you want to see your company/function and how you want your employees to remember about your company or department or function. This would help you to come up with your department or functional plan, which should align with the overall organization’s plan.

Typical example of a strategic planning for Admin & Facilities function

Mission: Provide a hassle-free work environment to all employees of our organization.

Vision: We will be perceived to have delivered the most exciting facilities-related services in our organization.

Strategic theme: Reduce defects/service calls and facilities snags.

Strategy: Display increased pro-activeness, ensure zero-defect in communication.

Key results: (1) Obtain 4.5 rating on a 5-point scale, (2) Less than10% repetitive calls/per month, (3)  Month on month 10% reduction on snags observed till end MMYY, (4) Analyse key concern areas from helpdesk calls, and (5)  Introduce one new initiative a month for the next 12 months.

Customer results: Predictable service delivery, Information available up to date, Process oriented approach which results in customer satisfaction.

Process results:  SLA/OLA well defined, 24/7 Helpdesk to service employee requests, reduced escalations.

Competence results: Create knowledge repository, Awareness communication to employees, training to the team on subject matter expertise.

Hope this provides some basics of strategic planning. Go ahead and draw up your personal and professional strategies and achieve them.

Here are the five steps that helped me in the Strategic Planning Process, and I am sure these steps would help you start your Strategic Planning journey.

1.   Take a detailed look at your strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats (SWOT-analysis) which needs to be done once a year.

2.   Create a plan of what you want to achieve in the next 3-5-year time frame

3.   Then ask questions based on SWOT analysis, what you already have and what you need to acquire to achieve the goals you set.

4.   Break down things you need to do year-wise, then for the current year month-wise plans to be prepared.

5.   Ensure these year-wise plans are written by you are read through twice a day – once in the morning as soon as you get up and once before you go to sleep. Over a period, you will realise that you are acting and progressing.

 “The essence of strategy is what not to do” -Michael Porter