The strategic planning process starts at the top, where the senior management team conducts a situational diagnosis, reviews and updates the long-term strategy, and provides the goals needed to support the plan of achievement. Management then distributes this information to functional areas of the organization, which help create tactical plans and functional targets in support of the goals. This process should move up and down the organization until all teams have accepted and invested in the plan and have accepted appropriate levels of responsibility and accountability for achieving the goals and targets. The business operating system is the process used to track performance as an organization strives for excellence. Goals and targets identified during the strategic planning process should be reviewed on a monthly basis to ensure that the organization is performing as planned.
Monthly reviews allow timely action to be taken where improvement is needed.
Measurables that support the plan should be trended and compared to the goals and targets. To achieve world-class performance, organizations must move beyond ISO 9000. The Baldrige Award criteria can help them get there. Eagle Group USA Inc. In this capacity, he manages new product development, consulting and training activities, and the business operating system. Copyright 1999 QCI International.