Strategic planning is essential for any organization. It allows the organization to reflect on where they have been and where they are going. Once complete, it definitively charts the path forward. We recently had the privilege of helping the Griffin School develop their strategic plan. To bring the concepts to life, we traveled to the wonderful land of OZ.
We shared that one of the ways to think about the essential pieces of strategic planning was to picture the funnel cloud of that Kansas tornado that eventually landed Dorothy in Munchkinland. The process of the plan starts wide ranging and gets progressively more specific.
You start with AREAS. These are very broad categories that the organization has to address in its plan. Things like facilities, operations or marketing.
After the areas have been identified, it is time to create GOALS. These clearly articulate what needs to be achieved to advance the organization’s mission and address relevant problems, needs, and opportunities.
OBJECTIVES are next. Objectives break down the goals into measurable steps. Each goal may have several objectives.
The Goals and Objectives answer the question:
What are we going to do?
Once ‘the what’ has been defined, it is time to answer the question:
How are we going to put the plan into action?
This process begins by identifying STRATEGIES. These are the big steps that outline the actions that will be taken in yearly increments. Periodic benchmarks are established for each strategy.
The devilish details are next. Specific TASKS are created to achieve the strategies. This is the most detailed part of the plan. Each action has responsible parties, timelines and resources attached to them.
You can see that it can start to get confusing, so G2 Solutions took Griffin School down the yellow brick road and looked at how Dorothy would go about creating a strategic plan.
DOROTHY GALE’S (1939 Movie Version) STRATEGIC PLAN
GOAL
Get home in the most expeditious manner possible.
OBJECTIVE:
Chart the most direct route to the Emerald City
STRATEGY:
Assess available resources to stay on the yellow brick road
Evaluate progress at each crossroad
TASKS:
Determine possible threats to staying on the yellow brick road
Responsible Party: Glinda the Good Witch
Timeline: Day 1
Resources: Historical experience with managing the Wicked Witch of the West and her sister
Repeat Yellow Brick Road Instructions to assure a good start
Responsible Party: Dorothy
Timeline: Day 2
Resources: Glinda the Good Witch
Determine the dance skip move that will keep Dorothy and Toto centered on the yellow brick road
Responsible Parties: Dorothy and the residents of Munchkinland
Timeline: Day 2
Resources: The Ballerina Munchkins and The Lollipop Guild (along with many of the other dancing Munchkins)
While Dorothy ultimately accomplished her goal there was a lot of indecision and drama around the process. We think G2 Solutions could have dialed down her stress level if she had hired us to help.
While we are not Glinda or the Great Wizard of Oz, G2 Solutions has experience helping companies chart an effective path down their own yellow brick roads. Contact us and we’ll show you how.
Photo by julio andres rosario ortiz
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