Elements of Strategic Planning
While the project approach, steps, and methods will differ depending upon the purpose, stakeholders, and preferences, our approach to strategic planning includes five basic elements:
Scanning the Environment
What this means: A scan of the landscape, including changes in the field, technology, and the economic environment provides strategic data for planning.
Creating a Vision
What this means: A vision is a visceral picture of the future to be created, including purpose/mission, identity, impact, and culture, and values. What is core to our organization? What do we aspire to? What do our stakeholders care about that we need to adopt in order to be strategically relevant and impactful?
Identifying Gaps
What this means: Assessing the distance between where we are today and where we want to go leads to strategies and actions needed to close the gap.
Specifying Goals, Objectives, Measures of Success, Action Plans, Accountabilities
What this means: Goals describe the strategic areas of focus that are needed to achieve the vision, while objectives describe specific steps needed to achieve goals. Objectives are specific, and include the what (desired outcome), why (purpose), how (action plans/steps), who (owner/accountable), when (timeframe).
Implementing, Monitoring, Learning, Celebrating
What this means: Plans should be executed with care and commitment. Proactive follow- up and monitoring will ensure actions are taken; listening and learning from both successes and setbacks improves outcomes; and celebrating achievements and milestones lets people know that their energy and time are valued.