Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies

Think and act strategically every time In today's business environment, strategic planning stresses the importance of making decisions that will ensure an organization's ability to successfully respond to changes in the environment and plan for sustainable viability. Providing practical, field-tested techniques and a complete 6-phase plan, Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies shows you how to make strategy a habit for all organizations, no matter the size, type, or resource constraints. Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies is for companies of all types and sizes looking to build and sustain a competitive edge, set up an ongoing process for market assessment and trend analysis, and develop a vision for future growth. This revised edition includes: new and updated content on planning for both the short and the long-term; crucial information on succession planning; help preparing for the unexpected using scenario planning and agile strategy; strategies for implementing change and integrating strategic plans successfully by involving all staff members; and more. The supplementary CD lays out a comprehensive, 6-phase, step-by-step program, complete with downloadable spreadsheets, charts, checklists, video links, and more Provides value for any business or entrepreneur looking to improve efficiency, focus, and competitive edge Includes practical, field-tested techniques Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies gives today's business owners and upper-level management the tools and information they need to think and act strategically in order to more effectively weather current economic storms while planning for future growth.

Think and act strategically every timeIn today's business environment, strategic planning stresses theimportance of making decisions that will ensure an organization'sability to successfully respond to changes in the environment andplan for sustainable viability. Providing practical, field-testedtechniques and a complete 6-phase plan, Strategic Planning KitFor Dummies shows you how to make strategy a habit for allorganizations, no matter the size, type, or resourceconstraints.Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies is for companies ofall types and sizes looking to build and sustain a competitiveedge, set up an ongoing process for market assessment and trendanalysis, and develop a vision for future growth. This revisededition includes: new and updated content on planning for both theshort and the long-term; crucial information on successionplanning; help preparing for the unexpected using scenario planningand agile strategy; strategies for implementing change andintegrating strategic plans successfully by involving all staffmembers; and more.* The supplementary CD lays out a comprehensive, 6-phasestep-by-step program, complete with downloadable spreadsheetscharts, checklists, video links, and more* Provides value for any business or entrepreneur looking toimprove efficiency, focus, and competitive edge* Includes practical, field-tested techniquesStrategic Planning Kit For Dummies gives today's businessowners and upper-level management the tools and information theyneed to think and act strategically in order to more effectivelyweather current economic storms while planning for futuregrowth.

Introduction 1Part I: Kicking Off Your Strategic Planning Process 7Chapter 1: What Is Strategic Planning Really? 9Chapter 2: Why Strategic Planning Works 23Chapter 3: Getting Set Up for Successful Planning 35Part II: Determining Your Core DNA and Envisioned Future53Chapter 4: Identifying Your Strategic Issues 55Chapter 5: Focusing on What You Do Best 75Chapter 6: Developing Your Mission, Values, and Vision 91Part III: Sizing Up Your Current Situation 111Chapter 7: Assessing Your Business and Its Capabilities 113Chapter 8: Seeing Your Business through Your Customers' Eyes131Chapter 9: Researching the Market to Find New Customers 147Chapter 10: Identifying Your Opportunities and Threats 169Part IV: Mapping Your Organization's Path to the Future191Chapter 11: Strategizing for Growth and Sustainability 193Chapter 12: Establishing Your Strategic Objectives, Goals, andActions 211Chapter 13: Putting Your Plan into Action 237Part V: Living and Breathing Your Plan 261Chapter 14: Execute, Execute, Execute: Putting Your Plan to Work263Chapter 15: Scenario Planning: Answering the What Ifs 283Chapter 16: Value-Creating Strategies for EntrepreneurialOrganizations 295Chapter 17: Sustainability for the Social Sectors 305Part VI: The Part of Tens 319Chapter 18: Ten Tips to Keep Your Strategic Plan from Hittingthe Shelf 321Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Ruin Your Strategy Meetings and How toAvoid Them 325Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Maintain Momentum in Your PlanningProcess (And Life) 331Appendix: About the CD 335Index 343