Strategic Planning & Goal Setting

DAY 1

The Strategic Planning process - 1

• Introduction to the seminar – structure, and content

• Strategy - concept, and significance

• “Competitive Positioning” versus “Blue Sky” approaches

• Achieving competitive advantage through flexibility and agility

• The interaction of strategy, structure and business processes

• Gathering information and intelligence for the SWOT analysis

• Mini-cases and group discussion – “Cost versus Differentiation”

• Review of Day One

DAY 2

The Strategic Planning process - 2

• Vision and mission statements - preparing for the future

• Business analysis and contingency planning

• Strategic choice

• Converting the SWOT analysis into the “Strategy Matrix”

• Strategy formulation – programs, projects, policies

• Transforming the organization - strategy implementation and managing change

• Mini-case and group discussion – major strategic re-orientation

• Review of Day Two

DAY 3

Assessing current state of the organization

• Leadership and management in relation to strategy

• Customer and market focus

• Human resources and knowledge management

• Building a strategic planning team

• Effective process management to achieve business results

• Monitoring and measuring business performance

• Mini-case and group discussion - a market entry problem

• Review of Day Three

DAY 4

Avoiding the pitfalls of strategic planning

• The strategy life-cycle and the problem of strategic drift

• Getting innovative thinking into the organization

• The potentially negative dimensions of success

• How to avoid “paralysis by analysis”

• Overcoming inability to evaluate fresh ideas, denying the truth and thinking inside the box

• The critical importance of team building and teamwork

• Mini-case and group discussion - how and why a good organization can go bad

• Review of Day Four

DAY 5

Personal strategic planning

• Applying strategic tools and techniques to the individual

• Personal goal setting, creating a personal strategic plan

• Implementing change – achieving progress as a strategic manager

• The mix of competencies and personal skills required in 21st-century business

• Executing strategy – how to break it down and get it done

• Developing inspiration and gathering support

• Overcoming adversity by leveraging your skills and building on success

• Conclusion – a personal role in the strategic planning and goal setting processes