PART I Most people in organizations, especially those in management and leadership roles, are aware of strategic planning. Mission and vision statements, as well as principles, are increasingly being displayed in public areas.
Managers talk, usually with pride, about their organization's strategic plan.
While most organizations view having a strategic plan as a desirable objective, there remains great confusion about creating one. In this series, we will discuss strategic planning and address many of the typical questions that arise once a decision has been made to pursue this path. We'll also look at how to prepare your organization for strategic planning, including different approaches to participation, the actual process for crafting a plan, and how to organize for implementation, measure progress, and assure success. Strategic planning is really about making a conscious and pro-active effort to shape the destiny of an organization. Realistically, either you have a hand in designing your future, or your future will be predominantly determined for you by external forces, which often exist in conjunction with a lack of cohesion and focus within your organization.