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Strategy & Planning
Strategy and planning are often confused, or treated as the same thing. This is a mistake. In truth, they are like oil and water in a car engine: both are vital, but if they get mixed up, all you end up with is a costly mess.
Since clarity is a main aim of strategy work, it's worth attempting to keeping things simple (in the sense of elegant), at least to start with. They have a way of getting more complicated on their own, after all.
At its simplest, strategy answer "WHAT" questions, including:
- What market will we be in?
- What will our range of products and services be?
- What difference will our offerings make to our customers and clients?
- What will the business need to look like in order to do all this?
In other words, strategy sets out the playing field and the goals. Planning then answers questions about "HOW" the business will achieve its goals, given the shape of the field.
- How will we ensure the business looks and behaves how it's supposed to?
- How will we put the necessary processes, systems, measures in place?
- How will we make sure the right things get done?
- How will we make sure they get done properly?
- How will we protect against the inevitable stumbling blocks?
A good strategy has a clarity to it. It enables you to focus effort, rather than have people running around in conflicting directions. And a good plan gives you control as you transition to the new shape of the business.
ARTICLE: What's a Strategy For? (includes questionnaire to help you evaluate your current strategy)
ARTICLE: Back From the Future (discusses the dangers of premature planning, and provides a broad outline of an effective planning process).
The vital part that's often missed: From strategy to execution
Too often, strategies, which may well be excellent, are not translated into action. Instead they lie on the shelf gathering dust.
Many successful strategy sessions are undermined by the subsequent lack of execution. Setting strategy is just the start of a process. In order to maximise success, we can support implementers in establishing detailed tactics and plans, and coach them through the process of communicating the strategy, getting buy in, overcoming the inevitable stumbling blocks, and keeping things moving forward to completion.
Contact us.
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