Strategic Planning and Thinking

The course is suitable for participants who either have a low level of knowledge and experience in this area or for those with more experience who wish to update their skills and knowledge.

Understand the importance of Strategic Planning
Have a clear view and understanding of their
Clarify their mission, vision and goals
Indentify strategic planning issues in order to
Learn practical approaches for identifying key
Incorporate customer needs into your strategic
Apply a range of techniques for planning &
Distinguish different kinds of thinking
Learn and use creative thinking tools to enhance
Develop plans to integrate strategic thinking into
Determine the best approach to effectively

WHAT IS STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THINKING & HOW CAN IT HELP THE ORGANIZATION?

FUNDAMENTALS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING
• The need for strategic planning
o Benefits of strategic planning
o Defining the strategic planning
• Defining components of a strategic plan
o The “Who” and “What” of a strategic plan
o Communicating the strategy

STRATEGIES VS. TACTICS VS. OPERATIONS CLARIFYING YOUR MISSION, VISION AND GOALS

UNDERTAKING A STRATEGIC REVIEW TO DETERMINE “WHERE ARE WE NOW?”
Understand when and how to use analytical tools suchas SWOT, PEST to understand your organization and itsenvironment. Using the strategic planning process tohelp you make choices about the future nature and direction of your organization

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC THINKING AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER TYPES OF THINKING IMPEDIMENTS TO STRATEGIC THINKING
• Perception
• Breaking thought patterns – challenging assumptions
• Identifying and overcoming creative blocks

SELF ASSESSMENT: Are you a strategic thinker?

GET OUT OF THE BOX: Creative-Thinking Skills to integrate strategic thinking into individual/group planning, problem solving and decision making
• Models of creative thinking
• Methods for improving problem definition
• Organizing ideas and transforming problems
• Methods and tools for generating alternative ideas
• Creative problem solving
• Fostering innovation
• Developing solutions
• Turning creative ideas into action

MOVING AHEAD
• Identifying strategic opportunities
• Communicating your strategy
• Avoiding/overcoming resistance
• Developing and maintaining strategic relationships

LEARNING TOOLS

Strategic planning process model
SWOT analysis model
P.E.S.T model
Key success factors template
TOWS matrix
SMART objective model
Reverse brainstorming model
Brainwriting 6-3-5 model
Random word technique
P.M.I model