Strategic Planning Foundations

Learn how to conduct an effective strategic planning process that results in a clear, compelling strategic plan for your organization.

Introduction

• Strategic planning

1. Before You Begin Planning

• Understanding the principles of strategic planning
• Avoiding major strategic planning risks
• Strategic planning process: Overview
• Strategic planning process: Tactical needs

2. Defining the Strategic Environment

• Assessing the market
• Conducting a SWOT analysis
• Extracting insights from a SWOT analysis

3. Setting Your Strategic Direction

• Defining the direction
• Creating a mission statement
• Defining the organizational vision
• Refining the mission and vision
• Guiding principles and goals

4. Determining How You'll Compete

• Core competencies: Starbucks example
• Focusing with core competencies

5. Evaluating and Prioritizing Opportunities

• Understanding strategic filters
• Creating strategic filters
• Applying strategic filters
• Comparing and prioritizing initiatives
• Conducting deep analysis of high priority ideas
• Initiative prioritization: Drawing the line

6. Assessing Your Initiative Portfolio

• Applying the 2x2 matrix
• Creating multiple diversification views
• Assessing initiatives over time

7. Organizing for Success

• Planning resources
• Accountability
• The ongoing prioritization process
• Running the strategic planning process

Conclusion

• Strategic planning pitfalls
• Next steps