7 Ways to Test Your Strategic Planning Approach

Posted by on July 8, 2010

Ready to begin a strategic planning exercise? Perhaps you are wondering if your current approach is up to par? When evaluating your corporate strategic planning approach, here are 7 tests to determine if yours is as good as it should be.

1. Does the strategic planning approach provide REAL business truth?

Plans that work are based in reality, not opinions, guesses, or hopes. An effective planning process includes measurement and acknowledgment of key business “truths,” including financial, cultural, competencies, and historical acceleration.  Those who are involved in the planning process must be open to facing these truths. 

To illustrate, acceleration is the rate of change (accomplishment of objectives) for the organization - moving from idea generation through implementation. It takes into account both the speed at which the organization accomplishes tasks and the desired direction of the organization. Knowing the historical acceleration of your organization will enable you to set realistic timeframes in your plan.

2. Does the approach eliminate misinterpretation?

If you ask five people in your organization to describe the goals of the organization, how many different answers will you get? Your planning approach should utilize a highly controlled vocabulary (using minimize and increase statements) that support the desired outcomes.  This vocabulary should eliminate bias and allow all parties responsible for accomplishing organizational goals to clearly understand and communicate the goals.

3. Does the planning process reinforce and compliment existing planning?

If you’re considering a new approach to strategic planning, consider how the new approach will fit in with the plans and processes your organization is accustomed to using.  Introducing an entirely new planning process to the leadership of your organization may sound appealing and refreshing but it may also bring unnecessary risk and resistance that will counterbalance many of the desired benefits.

4. Does the plan consistently deliver desired outcomes?

Probably the number one way to test your strategic planning approach is to look at the outcomes.  Does your organization consistently reach its desired outcomes? Or does it too often fall short? A plan should consistently and predictably deliver desired outcomes.  If it doesn’t, it’s time to revisit the approach.

5. Does the approach provide unambiguous direction?

Similar to #2, eliminating misinterpretation, a plan must offer unambiguous direction to the individuals responsible for implementing the plan.  Those responsible for putting the plan in motion must clearly and unambiguously understand their responsibilities and how their duties contribute to the overall outcomes. 

6. Does the plan enforce accountability?

Even the best plans can fall apart without the accountability necessary to drive plans forward.  Does your strategic planning approach appoint plan “governors” to oversee the execution of the plan?  Does it incorporate accountability measures to ensure individuals responsible for the plan are actually doing what they should?  The harsh reality is, people need to be accountable.

7. Does the plan deliver the highest value opportunities first, faster?

In today’s fast-paced global business environment, organizations must be able to identify and immediately respond to high value opportunities.  Your plan should include both opportunity valuation, where the value of defined opportunities are calculated and prioritized using mathematical formulas, and initial planning, where preliminary plans can begin to be put into action while more detailed planning continues.

At Method Frameworks we’ve developed an approach to strategic planning that marries strategy and execution. It’s called Plan4^SM and it consistently delivers at least 140% ROI to CEOs by delivering desired outcomes (not just strategies) through a scientifically-based process engineered to help companies gain and maintain sustainable competitive advantage.

In the end, any planning approach you take is only as good as the results it delivers. We know this better than anyone.  Find out how Plan4 can make a difference in your organization.

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For permission to use or reprint any portions of this copyrighted article, contact Method Frameworks at articles@methodframeworks.com.

About the Author:

Joe Evans is the President and CEO of Method Frameworks.  Joe is a published author, frequent speaker and recognized expert in corporate strategic planning. To contact Method Frameworks about scheduling Mr. Evans about an upcoming speaking engagement, visit www.methodframeworks.com/business-speaker or email requests to media_relations@methodframeworks.com.

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Method Frameworks is a leading business strategy and management consulting company, based in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and serving clients nationally and internationally.

Discover our capabilities and learn why Method Frameworks is the strategic planning partner chosen by Fortune-500 companies and small businesses alike. Let us show you how to realize 140%+ ROI on your strategic planning efforts through our unique Plan4^SM process that brings together strategy and execution into a powerful plan.   Plan4 is our proprietary business planning process that involves an integrated set of actions designed to help companies gain sustainable advantage. Download our brochure to learn more about Method Frameworks and our services or download our Plan4 Planning Process Overview.

You can contact Method Frameworks at 877-317-5264 (877-31PLAN4) or follow this link to request a meeting with a planning consultant. Check our articles and blog often at www.methodframeworks.com to get many more planning tips and information about our Plan4 process.

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