This case study describes how a large corporation with several business unites developed and implemented a consistent group-wide process for strategic analysis and strategic planning for the first time.
Strategy - Strategic Planning
Strategy making in the past and today – Part 2: Problems with the traditional strategy process
This part two of our article series about traditional and new approaches to strategy development looks at the problems related to the traditional strategy process. They mainly arise from today’s dynamic and unpredictable business environment – a condition that the original process was not designed for.
Strategy making in the past and today – Part 1: The traditional strategy process
Management theory and practice widely accept today that businesses operate in a more and more complex, dynamic, less predictable environment. This situation requires managers to develop new ways of thinking and acting. Nevertheless, many managers still follow the old approach of strategic positioning and strategic planning. This basic model proved to be very worthwhile for […]
Strategy and change – natural order or chicken-and-egg problem?
At the first glance, it is common sense: at first, a strategy is developed. Then, change is necessary in order to implement that strategy. The logic of this order is striking, isn’t it? Unfortunately, life is not as simple as we would prefer. It would be shortsighted to see change only as a means of […]
The big shift in strategy
The last decades have brought a dramatic change in the external environment for almost every business. What has been a fairly stable and predictable landscape for a very long time has become a mix of dynamic, ever-changing and unpredictable forces. It is almost common sense now that the traditional approach to strategy, which builds on […]
How do you get the most out of your strategic planning meeting? Practical advice for preparation and follow-up
Strategic planning meetings are a very controversial thing. They have a bit of a reputation to be just another fancy management trend. I have to admit that I, too, have my doubts if all of these meetings are worth the efforts. My experience tells me that there is much truth in Brian Quinn’s famous quote: […]
Why strategic plans fail
It is almost common sense that many strategic plans fail to deliver the expected results. Richard Marker, who has worked as a strategic planner in private and non-profit sectors, shares his own observations about this problem in his article Why Strategic Plans Fail.
Financial Modelling for strategic planning – Use these proven best practices to improve results and credibility!
For many strategists, self-developed Excel sheets are the tool of choice to support strategic planning. Despite its popularity, Excel and other spreadsheet programs have their downsides. I have discussed the pros and cons as well as some alternatives in an earlier article. However, by following a set of proven best practices, you can minimize these […]
Excel spreadsheets for strategic planning – use with care!
Are you one of those strategic planners who rely on Excel spreadsheets? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Excel is and remains fairly popular in strategic planning. However, there is no denying – Excel is not the perfect solution for this purpose. There are some significant risks and downsides. In this article, I discuss the […]
Two ideas for improving strategic planning
This article has the objective to analyze and to discuss selected problems and barriers related to the strategic planning process. Those problems and barriers for a sound strategic planning process have been indentified in both the academic and the business literature.