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The Professional Strategic Planning Process

What it is. The strategic plan is a concise and formal management tool that addresses a set of objectives, and prescribes a plan of action to achieve those objectives. It provides a framework for decisions based on choices that are currently available. It has specific timelines, input requirements, and deliverables.

What it is not. It is not a tool to predict the future. It is not a tool to replace leadership and executive resources.

The process. The process presumes an organizational setting through which decisions will be made in an environment where much activity is taking place and where issues continuously change. It is a creative process that requires flexibility in thinking, sensitivity to diverse personalities, priorities and politics, as well as adaptation to changes and surprises.

Assumptions. Strategic planning is not an exact science.

Planning will be a continuous process
Decisions will be made based on the best available information
The future is not necessarily predictable
There will be a range of outcomes
The process will focus upon strategies that utilize current assessments

Deliverables. It is an employable management tool that will provide:

A document that will serve as a blueprint for addressing and prioritizing the organization’s issues and objectives with a defined response
An explicit framework for achieving the objectives (project, business objectives, etc.)
A common reference for community leaders
Milestones that are definable
A platform to launch a feasibility study, project study or design process
Consensus among all stakeholders (key donors, the board, the community)

Factors affecting the outcome.

The degree of commitment to the existing mission statement
The amount and quality of information
Level of cohesiveness among the stakeholders
Level of participation by stakeholders
Willingness by all stakeholders to provide full disclosure of information up front
Size of the organization or project
Volatility of the organization to change
Volatility to external factors
Effective Leadership