Whats the process for developing a strategic plan?
By Ron Robinson, President of ABARIS Consulting Inc. December 3, 2001 The process for developing a strategic plan will vary from organization to organization, and for some it may take several months to complete while for others it will only take a few days. Having said that, all organizations generally follow many of the same steps when developing their strategic plan. The key difference between organizations lies in the amount of time and effort they spend gathering information, undertaking analysis, obtaining stakeholder input and gaining their commitment. While the depth and breadth of each organization’s plan is specific, the basic aspects of the process in developing a strategic plan generally include: • Understanding why you need a strategic plan. • Determining if you need assistance in developing your strategic plan. • Conducting a stakeholder analysis. • Determining the scope of the strategic plan. • Deciding upon the level of resources. • Deciding on the information needs. • G
