¶ … alternative models to strategic planning? What are the pros and cons of these models? How successful have they been when organizations use them? 400 Words
Strategic planning processes have not always been perfect for organizations. In my papers for instance, I noted plans that I have for Dendro. They sound perfect and I have no changes to make to nay of them. However, alternative models to strategic planning are just s helpful. Strategic planning when done appropriately can be fine, but other times, alternatives may be needed and these include others such as engaging the board, getting everyone on the same page, getting buy-in from stakeholders, and so forth. Some of the alternatives are the following:
Focus on the questions that need answers
The organization (or Dendro in this case) can begin sessions with four or five questions that we want un ambivalent answers to and want to focus our session on. These questions should be styled in a yes / no type of manner. For instance the question of "How big do we want to be?" can be rephrased to, "should we aim to grow to 15 staff within the next 5 years?" Or "do we have the right people on board / sufficient resources to implement decision?" And so forth. Formulating these razor-sharp questions will far likely eventuate in razor sharp answers and direction rather than meanderings and vague conclusions.
The facilitator needs to know the core questions that need to be asked. These then need...
Once given this response, we have a better idea of how to proceed.
Strategic Learning Agenda
An exploratory creative approach can also help employees get out of closed and narrow situations and provide us with a more creative, expanded approach to seeing situations and devising different solutions.
These strategic learning agenda may involve interviewing other companies similar to Dendro and seeing how they have adapted to similar challenges or dealt with risky challenging situations. The employees can them make a presentation to the board, their findings can be discussed and this may eventuate into fresher more stimulating horizons and prospects for discovery.
Logic models and theories of change
The focus here is on the theories of change, namely what changes / outcomes we desire to see from our objectives. The Theory of change (TOC) is stimulating since it forces language to revolve around outcome rather than compelling workers to remain stuck in services or in differences of opinion on how to perpetrate them. The TOC also answers the crucial question - why do we exist, and why do we do what we do - and compels employees to remain focused on this question i.e. On outcome. Rather than staying at the stage where one is fixated in describing the problem, the TOC can be optimistic in that it pushes employees to move beyond and see bigger picture. (Blue avocado.…
