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Friday, May 11, 2012

Strategic Planning Seminars and E-Book


1. Introduction to Strategic Planning 101-A


If you are clueless to where your business is headed.
What is a Strategic Plan?
Business people usually get so wrapped up with day-to-day matters, they tend to lose focus. This is why there should be an evaluation, or a precautionary strategic plan to assure success. Therefore, a strategic plan is needed for a business to succeed. A solid diagram out to:
*Function as an outline for conclusions or for obtaining support/approval.
*Supply a foundation for further detailed designing.
*Clarify the business to other people in order to introduce, involve & motivate.
*Aid & benchmarking & execution supervision.
*Inspire modification and develop into the building piece for following diagram.
*For motivation (and a couple grins), have a glance at a few of the quotes and samples of awful advice comprised in additional points!

Let us not get confused, a strategic plan is not the same as a business plan. Between the two, the former is distinctly possible to be an (extremely) brief document while a business plan is normally a considerably more sizeable and comprehensive document. A strategic plan can supply the groundwork and structure for a business strategy. If you would like to know more about a business plan, look up How to Write a Business Plan, Secrets into Business Planning, and Free-Strategy: Business Strategy Guide & Template. Furthermore, a strategic plan is different from an operational strategy. The difference being, the S.P. out to be visionary, guiding, and conceptual compared to the operations plan which is more likely to have a shorter time frame, be calculated, concentrated, be executable and have a statistical analysis . A Simplified Example: would be the planning of a birthday party, where it will be, when it will be, how long it will last, how much it will cost, who will go , is considered a strategy. The final preparations such as deadlines, the cost, cake, gifts, are considered operational. A better way to explain this is ask yourself the question. What operates a birthday party?
An acceptable strategic plan ought to be realistic and achievable, which permits executives and entrepreneurs to think strategically and act operationally - view Inventing Business Strategies for additional information.

Simple Approach to Strategic Preparation

An essential evaluation of previous performance by managers and owners of an organization and the preparation of a plan beyond normal budgetary scopes need a specific standpoint of mind and inclination(simply put, one has to have a certain mindset, and be focused). Some principal objectives which should be contemplated throughout the evaluation and preparation procedure comprise the following:

* Identify to the medium term, i.e. 2/4 years(Identify the mid-term goal).

* Be established by directors/owners

* Target on issues of strategic significance

* Be apart from daily situations

* Be realistic, separate and vital

* Differentiate between origin and result (causes & affect).

* Be examined intermittently

* And be written.

As the root to creating a strategic map, it is suitable clarifythe present standing, goals and strategies of an existent business or the most recent reasoning in appreciation of a brand new venture. Properly clarified, these can be utilized as the foundation for a critical inspection to investigate existent or seen Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities. This afterwards guides to strategy development covering the following matters conversed in further detail below:

* Vision

* Mission/Purpose

* Values

*Goals

*Designs

*Targets

*Programs

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2. Crucial Steps towards a Strategic Plan

The Vision

The initial move is to create a realistic Vision for the company. This ought to be displayed as a pen picture of the business in three or more years’ time in relations of its probable physical form, size, activities, etc. Response the question: "if someone from Mars visited the business, what would they see ( (or sense)? Ponder its destiny merchandises, markets, patrons, procedures, position, staffing, etc. Here is a great sample of a vision: The initial move is to create a realistic Vision for the company. This ought to be displayed as a pen picture of the business in three or more years’ time in relations of its probable physical form, size, activities, etc. Response the question: "if someone from Mars visited the business, what would they see ( (or sense)? Ponder its destiny merchandises, markets, patrons, procedures, position, staffing, etc. Here is a great sample of a vision:

I will come to America, which is the country for me. Once there, I will become the greatest bodybuilder in history.

I will go into movies as an actor, producer and eventually director.

By the time I am 30 I will have starred in first movie and I will be a millionaire.

I will collect houses, art and automobiles.

I will marry a glamorous and intelligent wife. By 32, I will have been invited to the White House.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's vision, who was elected Governor of the State of California in 2003.

So, basically the vision is the dream, one cannot have a mission or purpose without the initial dream, the vision.

The Mission/Purpose

The mission is a short outline of a business’s essential purpose. A mission declaration replies the question, "Why do we exist?" An organization exists to plan, create, produce, and market specific merchandise/services to market. Marketing relies on targeting a specific group of consumers, through certain distribution channels, and geographical areas. For example:
The Walt Disney Corporation Mission / Vision Statement:
One of the reasons why Disney has a reputation of delivering a seamless "magical" experience to its guests in all of its operations - theme parks, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, etc. - is because it has one overriding vision and mission for all of its business operations.
"The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world." (About.com Retail Industry , 2012).
Kritikos Research International "Mission Statement":
The mission of Kritikos Research International is to train : Business Consultants,Management Consultants, Personnel Consultants, and Personal Life consultants. Our organization focuses on personal, family organizational psychology, and empower individuals in finding solutions"strategies" to overcome problems, that everybody faces.
As you can see, there is a difference between the two mission statements, even if we take two companies from the same industry, you will see different missions. However, all mission statements will "broadly describe an organization's present capabilities, customer focus, activities, and business makeup" (Glossary, Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases by Fred David).

The difference between a vision statement and a vision statement is a vision is about the future, a mission is about what is being done to achieve that. As, you can see the Walt Disney company has a vision and mission statement.
Why write a business/life plan?
Writing a business plan is not the primary goal of a plan. However, the writing of the plan is a significant in-between phase - fail to plan can symbolize a plan to go wrong. For an established business, it proves that cautious attention has been given to the organization's progress, and for a startup it indicates that the enterpriser has completed his or her preparation.For a success person, it proves that they have paid close attention to their progress, and for somebody that is just beginning it indicates that they have done their research.
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Purpose of the Business Plan:

A correct business blueprint is precisely as prominent for a formed business, regardless of its size, as it is on behalf of a startup. It functions as four phases:
It helps executives or an enterpriser to define direction and research their project's evolvement or businesses chances.
It offers a standard which real performance can be calculated and reconsidered.
It provides a deliberated and well-reasoned outline within that a business be able improve and pursue business strategies from 3-5 years.
It serves as a foundation for discussion with third parties such as banks, agencies, shareholders, investors, etc.
Purpose of the Life Plan It assists an individual or family to define their direction and research their lifes evolvment and opportunities.
It offers a layout where real performance can be measured, and also altered if needed.
It provides a deliberated and well-reasoned plan where an individual is capable of improving and pursue their mid-term strategies within the next 3-5 years.
It serves as a foundation for deliberations with other successful people, to get new ideas, which will also assist in the evolving of a new life, a better one. Perhaps, even invest in you!
Business Plan Just as a there are no two businesses alike, it is the same in planning. Because, some issues in a plan will be more relevant to one organization, compared to another. It is important to plan according to the needs and circumstances of the organization. Regardless, a well laid plan has been tried and tested by another organization.
Life-Plan Just as there are no two individuals alike, it is the same in their planning. Because, some things in a plan will be more important to one person in contrast to another. One mans junk is another mans treasure! It is important to plan according to the individuals needs and circumstances. Regardless, a well laid plan has been tried and tested by another person who has succeeded. Business Plan A business plan ought to possess a realistic outlook of the anticipations and long-term goals for a formed business or brand new venture. It supplies the framework that ought to function and, ultimately, fail or succeed. For executives or entrepreneurs searching for external support, the layout is the most significant transactions document which they will ever produce, as it is a crucial element in raising finances. Preparation of a broad diagram will not promise success in raising funds or marshaling assistance, but absence of a sound plan will, most likely, guarantee failure. Life-Plan A life-plan ought to possess realistic expectations of long-term goals for either enhancing ones life, or altering one. This supplies the framework that should work and ultimately lead to success or failure.
Preparation of a Business Plan & Life-Plan Both of these need extensive preparation, it is done to better understand what both want to achieve, and how they can do it. Even if there is no external support needed, the plan plays a significant role in the avoidance of mistakes or finding opportunities. It is easier to tear up a sheet of paper than it is to tear up a business or a life.
For many organizations the preparation is just as important as the final goal, because this is the blueprint of achieving said objective. This comprises thinking, researching, discussing, and hashing out the kinks.
Expect to spend lots of time on this , to clarify the plan for possible supporters.
Begin with a Business Strategy A brief strategic plan can supply the foundation on which to support a considerably more comprehensive and detailed business diagram. Considering if you do not have a realistic strategic plan, you cannot plan a sensible blueprint.
If you don't have a sensible strategic plan, how can you realistically write a sensible business plan? Use a short strategic plan as the foundation for a more comprehensive business plan.
As the preface to creating a strategic plan, it is advantageous to clearly identify the present status, goals and strategies of an existent business or the most recent innovation in aspect of a brand new venture. Properly explained, these can be utilized as the foundation for a crucial inspection to probe existent or detected(SWOT) strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. This then will initiate the strategic advancement of : Vision:Without a vision nobody or business cannot begin.
Mission:Without a purpose, there is no reason to move on.
Motivation: Without a vision, a purpose, there is no motivation!
Values:Values are based upon the above, because when we move forward values are erected.
Strategies:Without strategies, one does not ascertain their success.
Objectives:Without objectives, goals broken down, everything above becomes null and void.
Performances:Without performances, action, implementation, all the above is just a vision.
As the root to creating a strategic map, it is suitable to clarify the present position, goals and strategies of an existent business or the most recent reasoning in appreciation of a brand new venture. Properly clarified, these can be utilized as the foundation for a critical inspection to investigate existent or seen Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats and Opportunities. SWOT ANALYSIS FROM BUSINESSBALLS swot analysis matrix - in business/marketing - internal v external factors Modern SWOT analysis in business and marketing situations is normally structured so that a 2x2 matrix grid can be produced, according to two pairs of dimensions. Strengths and Weaknesses, are 'mapped' or 'graphed' against Opportunities and Threats. To enable this to happen cleanly and clearly, and from a logical point of view anyway when completing a SWOT analysis in most business and marketing situations, Strengths and Weaknesses are regarded distinctly as internal factors, whereas Opportunities and Threats are regarded distinctly as external factors. Here is the explanation in more detail: Strengths and Weaknesses the internal environment - the situationinside the company or organization for example, factors relating to products, pricing, costs, profitability, performance, quality, people, skills, adaptability, brands, services, reputation, processes, infrastructure, etc. factors tend to be in the present Opportunities andThreats the external environment - the situation outside the company or organization for example, factors relating to markets, sectors, audience, fashion, seasonality, trends, competition, economics, politics, society, culture, technology, environmental, media, law, etc. factors tend to be in the future swot matrix (2x2 matrix using internal/external categories) Here is a typical extension of the basic SWOT analysis grid into a useful 'action-based' 2x2 SWOT matrix. The SWOT analysis in this format acts as a quick decision-making tool, quite aside from the more detailed data that would typically be fed into business planning process for each of the SWOT factors. Here the 2x2 matrix model automatically suggests actions for issues arising from the SWOT analysis, according to four different categories:
" strengths (internal)weaknesses (internal)opportunities(external)strengths/opportunities obvious natural priorities
Likely to produce greatest ROI (Return On Investment)
Likely to be quickest and easiest to implement.
Probably justifying immediate action-planning or feasibility study.
Executive question: "If we are not already looking at these areas and prioritising them, then why not?" weaknesses/opportunities
potentially attractive options
Likely to produce good returns if capability and implementation are viable.
Potentially more exciting and stimulating and rewarding than S/O due to change, challenge, surprise tactics, and benefits from addressing and achieving improvements.
Executive questions: "What's actually stopping us doing these things, provided they truly fit strategically and are realistic and substantial?"
threats(external) strengths/threats easy to defend and counter
Only basic awareness, planning, and implementation required to meet these challenges.
Investment in these issues is generally safe and necessary.
Executive question: "Are we properly informed and organized to deal with these issues, and are we certain there are no hidden surprises?" - and - "Since we are strong here, can any of these threats be turned into opportunities?" weaknesses/threats potentially high risk Assessment of risk crucial.
Where risk is low then we must ignore these issues and not be distracted by them.
Where risk is high we must assess capability gaps and plan to defend/avert in very specific controlled ways.
Executive question: "Have we accurately assessed the risks of these issues, and where the risks are high do we have specific controlled reliable plans to avoid/avert/defend?"
SWOT ANALYSIS FOR A LIFE-PLAN by Sia Kritikos Strengths(Internal): Weaknesses(Internal): Opportunities(External): Threats(External): TO BE CONTINUED