Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies

Think and act strategically every time

In today's business environment, strategic planning stresses the
importance of making decisions that will ensure an organization's
ability to successfully respond to changes in the environment and
plan for sustainable viability. Providing practical, field-tested
techniques and a complete 6-phase plan, Strategic Planning Kit
For Dummies shows you how to make strategy a habit for all
organizations, no matter the size, type, or resource
constraints.

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies is for companies of
all types and sizes looking to build and sustain a competitive
edge, set up an ongoing process for market assessment and trend
analysis, and develop a vision for future growth. This revised
edition includes: new and updated content on planning for both the
short and the long-term; crucial information on succession
planning; help preparing for the unexpected using scenario planning
and agile strategy; strategies for implementing change and
integrating strategic plans successfully by involving all staff
members; and more.

• The supplementary CD lays out a comprehensive, 6-phase,
  step-by-step program, complete with downloadable spreadsheets,
  charts, checklists, video links, and more

• Provides value for any business or entrepreneur looking to
  improve efficiency, focus, and competitive edge

• Includes practical, field-tested techniques

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies gives today's business
owners and upper-level management the tools and information they
need to think and act strategically in order to more effectively
weather current economic storms while planning for future
growth.

Autorentext
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.

Zusammenfassung
Think and act strategically every time In today's business environment, strategic planning stresses the importance of making decisions that will ensure an organization's ability to successfully respond to changes in the environment and plan for sustainable viability. Providing practical, field-tested techniques and a complete 6-phase plan, Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies shows you how to make strategy a habit for all organizations, no matter the size, type, or resource constraints.

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies is for companies of all types and sizes looking to build and sustain a competitive edge, set up an ongoing process for market assessment and trend analysis, and develop a vision for future growth. This revised edition includes: new and updated content on planning for both the short and the long-term; crucial information on succession planning; help preparing for the unexpected using scenario planning and agile strategy; strategies for implementing change and integrating strategic plans successfully by involving all staff members; and more.

• The supplementary CD lays out a comprehensive, 6-phase, step-by-step program, complete with downloadable spreadsheets, charts, checklists, video links, and more
• Provides value for any business or entrepreneur looking to improve efficiency, focus, and competitive edge
• Includes practical, field-tested techniques
  Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies gives today's business owners and upper-level management the tools and information they need to think and act strategically in order to more effectively weather current economic storms while planning for future growth.

Inhalt

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

What You’re Not to Read 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

How This Book Is Organized 3

Icons Used in This Book 5

Where to Go from Here 6

Part I: Kicking Off Your Strategic Planning Process 7

Chapter 1: What Is Strategic Planning Really? 9

Clearing Up the Confusion about Strategic Planning 10

Defining strategy 10

Identifying the Levels of Strategic Management 17

Getting Acquainted with the Strategic Plan’s Key Elements 17

Seeing the Signs: Why You Need This Book 19

Chapter 2: Why Strategic Planning Works 23

Strategic Planning Is Most Used Tool by Executives 23

Not Having a Plan Is Too Risky 25

A Plan Is Required to be a High Performer 26

Everyday Decisions Drive Long-Term Results 28

Agility Is a New Competitive Advantage 30

Everyone Is Part of Something Bigger 31

Tribal Knowledge Is Passed on to the Next Generation 32

You Can Clearly Explain (and Remember) Your Strategy 32

A Strategic Plan Eliminates Wasted Time and Money 33

Chapter 3: Getting Set Up for Successful Planning 35

Previewing the Elements of a Strategic Plan 36

Before You Begin: Assessing Your Planning Readiness 40

Taking a Look at the Strategic Planning Process and Time Frame 41

Selecting Your Planning Team 46

Going It Alone or Hiring a Facilitator 49

Smoothing Out Your Process 51

Part II: Determining Your Core DNA and Envisioned Future 53

Chapter 4: Identifying Your Strategic Issues 55

Reviewing What Happened Last Year 56

Evaluating Your Products and Services 57

Putting Your Portfolio Together (In the Market Attractiveness Framework) 60

Looking at Your Financial Performance 63

Seeing the Underlying Forces of Your Industry 71

Creating Your Short List of Strategic Issues 72

Chapter 5: Focusing on What You Do Best 75

Appreciating Your Competitive Advantage 75

Uncovering Your Advantages 79

Pinpointing Your Competitive Advantage 83

Using Your Advantages Now 87

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

Building Your Strategic Foundation 92

Assessing Your Mission 93

Fine-tuning Your Organizational Values 97

Visioning: Focusing in on Your North Star 101

Futurecasting: Looking to the Future 105

Finalizing Your Strategic Foundation 107

Part III: Sizing Up Your Current Situation 111

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Business and Its Capabilities 113

Establishing a Starting Point: Identifying Your Business’s Strategic Position 114

Evaluating Your Company’s Capabilities 115

Human capital: Having the right people in the right positions 115

Examining Your Resources 120

Processes: Connecting Your Capabilities and Resources 121

Checking Your Profit Margins 127

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

Getting to Know Your Most Valuable Customers 132

Determining Why Your Customers Are Your Customers 136

Focusing on How You Deliver Value to Your Customers 140

Chapter 9: Researching the Market to Find New Customers 147

Gathering Information about New Markets 148

Creating Your Target Markets 152

Focusing on the Most Attractive Markets 157

Standing Out from the Crowd: Your Positioning Statement 159

Reaching Your New Target Markets 162

Staying Market-Focused 165

Putting It All Together: Organizing Customer Information 167

Chapter 10: Identifying Your Opportunities and Threats 169

Starting Your SWOT Analysis 171 Seeing the Future 172</p...