Approaches to Strategic Planning

MWI's Strategic Planning Services are designed to help you define, execute and achieve results.  Strategic planning has many common elements regardless of the specific model utilized. The following list provides a general overview of the common elements. Following the overview are four specific models that are provided as examples for conducting a strategic planning process.

General Overview

1) Identify who the plan is for;
2) Review/revise/develop the Mission, Vision and Values;
3) Identify major influences outside and inside of the company;
4) Analyze the current situation (utilizing a SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats);
5) Establish Goals, Strategies and Tactics;
6) Establish Interim Objectives for each Goal including responsibilities and timelines;
7) Compose a written plan;
8) Celebrate successful development of the plan.


Four Examples of Strategic Planning Models

Below is a summary of four Strategic Planning facilitation models for your consideration, followed by a table that outlines the strengths and weaknesses of each approach:

1) Question & Answer Strategic Planning Model

The Question & Answer Strategic Planning Model approaches the strategic planning process by asking the organization to answer six questions. Realistic answers to these questions help guide organizational leadership toward a strategic direction.

• Why does the organization exist?
• How do we operate?
• Where are we now?
• Where do we want to be?
• How do we get there?
• How will we know we have arrived?

2) Phase-Based Strategic Planning Model

The Phase-Based Strategic Planning Model constructs a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s current state, identifies areas requiring immediate attention and develops a forward-looking strategy. In this model, people are an essential part of strategic planning and the model has four phases:

• Preliminary Assessment;
• Interviews;
• Strategy & Diagnostic Workshops;
• Document Outputs.

3) Focus Strategic Planning Model

The Focus Strategic Planning Model is workshop-based and incorporates management teams extensively as part of the process, thereby generating understanding, commitment, and consequently, better implementation. This approach also includes a focus on the development of key strategic actions with performance measures and timelines. There are two primary elements:

• Define and illustrate the strategic framework;
• Perform the four analyses of the process:
- Current State Analysis;
- Research & Visioning Process;
- Development of Strategic Initiatives;
- Development of the Final Plan.

4) Four Steps/Four Enablers Model

The Four Steps/Four Enablers Model is based on the premise that a successful strategic planning process is facilitated by four enablers and operated with four steps. The four steps include:

• Hypothesize Future State and Generate Ideas;
• Sort and Prioritize Ideas;
• Build a Business Case;
• Decide and Implement.

The four enablers that feed the four-step process include:

• Business Strategy;
• Operating Strategy;
• Behavior and Culture;
• Knowledge Infrastructure.