By Dr. Russell E. Willis
A plan is any set of decisions used to achieve a result. We plan so that things happen in a certain way.
Planning occurs in everyday life and in all types of organizations. Some plans are simple, involving little action or communication. Other times planning requires a great deal of effort using formal rules and procedures, and extensive collaboration.
Most planning centers on the specific steps or resources required for a particular activity or project. This kind of planning is often referred to as "tactical" planning. Tactical planning can be simple or complex depending on the scope of the activity or project at hand.
From time to time, however, we need to plan with a high-level or game-changing aim in mind. This form of planning considers the organization's:
goals or values, ·
well-being,
relationships and structures (both human and physical),
social and physical environments.
And in so-doing we may also want to:
inspire change, ·
motivate decision makers, employees, and/or clients, ·
focus attention on markets, ·
drive toward continuing improvement, ·
bring clarity and productivity to managers and workers.
This is "strategic" planning. Strategic planning does not need to be overly complex. Still, strategic planning is more likely to be effective if based on a clear and definitive process supported by management and driven by key decision makers. Strategic planning is also more like to reach its goals and drive continuous improvement if the plan is formal, accessible, and used as a resource for routine decision-making and tactical planning. I hope to discuss these topics in later blogs.