Strategic Planning

Read this chapter, which serves as a guide on writing a strategic plan by guiding you through the situation analysis and developing an organizational strategy formulation. The authors note that "the strategies and actions implemented at the functional (department) level must be consistent with and help an organization achieve its objectives at both the business and corporate levels and vice versa". In practical terms, think about implementing a new IT strategy at a medium-sized firm of 20–199 employees. Who would need to be involved in the planning and implementing the strategy?

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how an organization decides which products and services to develop, price, promote, and sell? Organizations typically develop plans and strategies that outline how they want to go about this process. Such a plan must take into account a company's current internal conditions, such as its resources, capabilities, technology, and so forth. The plan must also take into account conditions in the external environment, such as the economy, competitors, and government regulations that could affect what the firm wants to do. Organizations must also offer value to customers and graduates must provide value to their employers. As such, the value proposition becomes the basis for developing strategies. Given its importance for both organizations and students, we begin with the value proposition and then discuss the strategic planning process.

Just as your personal plans - such as what you plan to major in or where you want to find a job - are likely to change, organizations also have contingency plans. Individuals and organizations both must develop long-term (longer than a year) strategic plans, match their strengths and resources to available opportunities, and adjust their plans to changing circumstances as necessary.


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