The Way to Perform Strategic Planning

When we speak of strategic planning, we pertain to the discipline where we think about what will happen in the next few years or so. We then establish steps or solutions that we are willing to undergo or perform in order for us to cross the barriers that we might encounter. Typically, strategic planning is used in business organizations but it can also be utilized by the government, the non profit organizations and even personally. Simply put, this activity is to help us determine what and how we are going to navigate over the next year or so. In other words, we think about what we are going to do in the future and how we are going to accomplish the tasks that we have set. In general, the strategic planning concept is applied in the entire organization but it can also be focused on a particular yet major business function including departments, divisions and others.

Strategic thinking is actually easier when you give your focus on the entire organization. Although this is much more complicated than concentrating on a smaller sector, this can bring more advantages on the whole company. There are several activities that are involved in strategic planning and it is important that you know the basics on some of them. What you need to think however is that there is no perfect method in creating the plan for your business strategy. You will realize that the tactics in devising the strategic plan will vary from one company to another or from one person to another. Therefore, there is no reason for you to find the perfect way in conducting strategic planning but it is essential that you are able to understand the three main activities that are included here.

The first one is strategic analysis, which can involve different tasks such as reviewing, scanning and examining the environment of the organization. You will need to look not only within the company but also at the external factors such as the ballooning number of the rivals or even the changing demographics. This is where you can apply SWOT or strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Secondly, you will need to set the strategic direction. The planners will have to give conclusions regarding the activities that the organization should do when there are threats and opportunities that arise. These conclusions will include the accomplishments or the strategic goals and also the methods on how to achieve those accomplishments. This is where the mission and vision statements are created. There is a need for them because of the fact that companies rely on the intention and the image that they have established for the firm to achieve their goals.

The last one is action planning, which is very important. Of course, you can write the strategic planning all day with meaningful words. And yet, it will not work if you do not have the drive to accomplish the plan. You will need to carefully lay out the actions that you will need to perform in order for you to achieve the strategic goals of the organization.