Others feel that shaping a company's future is too complex to leave to a few - all ideas are needed. However many executives feel that leaving the campus offers an opportunity for uninterrupted discussions free of the familiar and traditional setting. Retreats are usually most successful when run as a part on a longer process e.g. a two day retreat brings together planning work of the past three months. For many organizations the most active planning period is three to six months. This includes meetings, preparation of reports and supporting data, involvement of managers and employees at various levels and the crafting of a brief but clear plan.
Some executives neglect to link the plan directly to the budget.
When the process works well the outcomes include consensus on a shared vision, identifiable strategies and decisions required to move forward, and allocation or reallocation of resources to begin to realize the future. More Frequently Asked Questions will be forthcoming. Also, be sure to check out the strategywerks message board , where you can post all your questions about strategic planning and strategy management. Responses are posted weekly. Copyright 1999 James T. Ziegenfuss, Jr., Ph.D. All rights reserved.