STRATEGIC PLANNING OUTPUTS

Over the course of a strategic planning engagement, Project X Strategies typically assists our clients in developing one or more of the following end products:

• A clear vision of the organization’s governing, or foundational concpets.  This includes a mission statement (purpose), vision (direction), and values (governing principles).
• A solid understanding of the of the facts, or context, within which the organisation is operating.  Essentially, the starting point for the strategy.  This should be data-driven and an emphasis should be put on avoiding hypotheses, assumptions, and “gut-feelings”.  Successful organisations have a very strong understanding what is going on in their markets (locally and globally) with both customers and competitors. Additonally, successful organistions are quick to acknowledge the realities and implications of any internal breakdowns that may impact the achievement of their strategic goals.
• A clear and manageable list of strategic goals and objectives.  The glue of a strategic plan is a clear set of goals and objectives which will provide the focus for resource allocation, leadership assignments, and capital expenditures over the foreseeable future (typically 3 years).  These points are most beneficial when they are concrete and aligned with specific steps, assignments, deadlines, and most importantly, specific measurements/goals that can be tracked over time.
• An action plan driven by strategic priorities.  This action plan must be solid regarding timelines, responsibilities, and interim milestones to assess progress.  Strategic plans usually include an executive summary of action plans, with greater detail provided in a supporting Operational Plan.
• A synopsis of resource requirements that the plan requires.  Budget detail can include not only annual spending, but may also include major capital projects and human resource requirments. Segmenting a plan into specific decisions on resource deployment adds carity and specificity to strategic thinking.