The Role of the Internal versus the External Strategist

Can an external strategist be an asset to an established corporate strategic planning team?  There is clearly no substitute for the value provided by the internal strategist and the homegrown planning processes that fit the organization like an old well-worn baseball glove.  But can this value be enhanced by an outsider’s involvement? 

The Definition of Strategic Planning: A White Paper

Strategic Planning is a misunderstood and often misused term, lacking a well-defined and widely agreed upon definition.  Strategy, and the planning associated with it, has origins dating back to its military usage as early as the 6th century.  In the corporate world, strategic planning generally refers to the defining of the organization’s go-forward plan for the future and accompanying desired outcomes. The spectrum of corporate strategic planning models and processes is broad, and the term has taken on many different connotations over recent decades. 

This White Paper aims to more definitively define the term, “Strategic Planning” in its corporate context and explores the basic components of what should be done in the planning process to make it worthwhile - delivering value, profits and securing competitive advantage.

Technology Strategy: Mid-Year Checkup

Back in January 2010, we first published this article, dealing with top strategic goals for CIOs and technology leaders.  It is now mid-way through the year and time to revisit those goals and check our progress.  How's your progress?

Here is a re-post of the article.

Many IT executives consider 2009 to be the “lost year”.   Forward momentum slowed to a crawl where Information Technology (IT) spending was concerned. Businesses went into a holding pattern and focused on reducing overhead and hoping for flat growth in revenue at best. Enter 2010, a new year and decade full of exciting business opportunities for companies, but also coming with guarantees of fresh challenges for technology and business leaders alike. The CIO, now more than ever, must be focused on the revenue-producing activities of the business enterprise in order to add value and be viewed as a major producer within the organization. But what can we do as the CIO to stay one step ahead of the business and keep the CEO happy? This article discusses three goals CIOs should focus on during 2010.