Background - Strategy
The term “strategy” is used and understood very differently. At the beginning of each strategy development process it is therefore recommended to clearly define its meaning in the scope of the specific project.
Strategy can be defined as the description of an organization’s (or individual’s) current position and the direction of intended change in order to achieve its objectives while also giving due regard to all relevant internal and external parameters.
(Or simply: There are many roads to Rome, but which one to take? (and is Rome where you want to go?))
Corresponding key elements of a strategy discussion are:
- Analysis of internal and external environments
- Determination of position
- Determination of objectives
- Definition of required changes
A good strategy is characterized by achieving agreed objectives with the least amount of change, or the best possible achievement of objectives with a given amount of change.
A bad strategy causes too much change compared to what is required for target achievement, or does not realize the optimal result with the given resources. In both cases the strategy is also not competitive, since there is a high probability that somebody else will either require less time and resources, or will achieve better results.
Within the framework of strategy implementation, a suggested definition of “operational planning” is:
The process by which the current position of an organization (or individual) is changed in the desired direction (to achieve its objectives / results), by development, combination and execution of actions, and considering changeable and unchangeable conditions.
(So once you have chosen one of the many roads to Rome: this is the detailed description of your journey).
Key elements of the result-oriented plan are:
- Output
- Input
- Process
Summary:
In planning a “strategy”, we focus on targeted results, objectives and the principal direction of change of relevant parameters, while the operational plan of strategy implementation describes the tactical realization of the desired changes.
I can support your strategy development and strategic planning through analysis of information needs and methodological consultancy as well as process setup and mediation.
