Benefits Of Strategic Planning

he objectives of strategic planning including understanding the benefits of strategic planning; understanding the products of strategic planning; and learning the keys to successful planning and implementation.

Many organizations spend most of their time reacting to unexpected changes instead of anticipating and preparing for them. This is called crisis management. Organizations caught off guard may spend a great deal of time and energy "playing catch up". They use up their energy coping with immediate problems with little energy left to anticipate and prepare for the next challenges. This vicious cycle locks many organizations into a reactive posture.

It does not have to be that way. A sensible alternative is a well tested process called strategic

Along the way, we will develop, evaluate, and refine these five products:

1. Environmental issues and trends: Factors that may impact the organization and the way it conducts business. Internal issues include staff, services, skills, resources, and needs. External factors include such things as threats of outsourcing. A strategic planning committee compiles an environmental scan, a body of information about the environment. Broad issues, singled out as potentially having significant effect on the facilities planning and management industry, are referred to as mega issues.

2. Needs Survey: Provides information from clients and peer institutions. The prioritized needs and expectations resulting from the survey are crucial as a basis for setting objectives.

3. Mission Statement: Defines the organization's fundamental reason for existence and establishes the scope of its business.

4. General Objectives: Broadly describe the results of what the organization wants to achieve in light of needs and relevant issues.

5. Strategies: Specific, measurable actions and directions designed to reach the objectives established. Strategies are fulfilled through creation, continuation, change, or elimination of

Up-front commitment by the leaders must include an adherence to the full and thorough process of strategic planning. There must also be a commitment to implementing the strategies recommended by the strategic planning committee.

The leaders should implement programs and services and commit allocations to meet the objectives of the strategic plan at a level that is "doable" for the organization and level of activity. As one person has put it, "To commit to plan, is to commit to change."

A strategic planning committee researches, collects input, and makes recommendations. But, it is up to member of the organization to implement the recommendations.

Credibility is created and maintained by following these three guidelines: representative participation, adherence to the complete process, and clear documentation.

The strategic planning committee should have representatives from all areas of the organization and adhere to the steps of the process. While the actual logistics of research and implementing the plan can be tailored to the available resources, all five products should be carefully developed and