Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies

by Olsen, Erica

• ISBN13: 9781118077771
• ISBN10: 1118077776
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-11-15
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

With more than 25 percent new content, Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies, 2nd Edition, gives today's business owner and upper level management the tools and information they need to think and act strategically in order to more effectively weather any current storm while planning for future growth. Updates and improvements to our product include: Expansion on discussions of strategic planning timeframes: Companies must be able to think long-term as they've always done, but short-term strategy also needs to be developed in order to react and adapt to a changing business climate Succession planning: In the next decade, more than 30 percent of the workforce will retire along with their knowledge and experience. How can companies tap into that resource now? Expansion of discussion on scenario planning: Many businesses are considering the different scenarios that can (and frequently do) happen due to volatility and uncertainty Agile strategy: tips and techniques that allow companies to react and adapt, to rethink strategic plans midstream when necessary From planning to managing: New content to help readers overcome the challenges of successfully implementing the strategy and realizing effective change

Author Biography

Erica Olsen is cofounder and COO of M3 Planning, Inc., a firm dedicated to developing and executing strategy. M3 provides consulting and facilitation services, as well as hosts products and tools such as MyStrategicPlan for leaders with big ideas who want to empower and focus their teams to achieve them.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Kicking Off Your Strategic Planning Process 7

Chapter 1: What Is Strategic Planning Really?  9

Chapter 2: Why Strategic Planning Works 23

Chapter 3: Getting Set Up for Successful Planning 35

Part II: Determining Your Core DNA and Envisioned Future 53

Chapter 4: Identifying Your Strategic Issues 55

Chapter 5: Focusing on What You Do Best 75

Chapter 6: Developing Your Mission, Values, and Vision 91

Part III: Sizing Up Your Current Situation 111

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Business and Its Capabilities 113

Chapter 8: Seeing Your Business through Your Customers' Eyes 131

Chapter 9: Researching the Market to Find New Customers 147

Chapter 10: Identifying Your Opportunities and Threats 169

Part IV: Mapping Your Organization's Path to the Future 191

Chapter 11: Strategizing for Growth and Sustainability 193

Chapter 12: Establishing Your Strategic Objectives, Goals, and Actions 211

Chapter 13: Putting Your Plan into Action 237

Part V: Living and Breathing Your Plan 261

Chapter 14: Execute, Execute, Execute: Putting Your Plan to Work 263

Chapter 15: Scenario Planning: Answering the What Ifs 283

Chapter 16: Value-Creating Strategies for Entrepreneurial Organizations 295

Chapter 17: Sustainability for the Social Sectors 305

Part VI: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Keep Your Strategic Plan from Hitting the Shelf 321

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Ruin Your Strategy Meetings and How to Avoid Them 325

Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Maintain Momentum in Your Planning Process (And Life)  331

Appendix: About the CD 335

Index 343