For any organization to achieve its strategic goals designed activities and strategies must be carried out through various implementation mechanisms, encompassing the three major processes of Cooperation, Collaboration and Coordination (Three Cs) (Zomorrodan A., 2011). The three Cs independently and in conjunction with each other are instrumental in making the goals of strategic plan happen. Below are some brief accounts as to the role each of them plays in the strategic planning process as well as their integration in the process.
The role and importance of collaboration, cooperation, and coordination
Cooperation is about partnership amongst stakeholders within the organization in the implementation of a strategic plan towards the attainment of organizational goals and objectives (Zomorrodan A., 2011). The process of cooperation involves the “concerted effort to engage and respect the input of all members – influential and not so influential – within complex organizational structures (Zomorrodan A., 2011). Without the key employee and constituent stakeholders and all employees being on board, strategic plans will almost always not see light of day. In short, “cooperation includes partnering with others in terms of resources, capabilities, and competencies, in pursuit of mutual interests for the advancement of organizational goals” (public puzzle 2011).
Whereas cooperation refers to separated entities working together to improve overall performance, coordination refers to
Planning consists of competitive moves and business approaches developed to attract, please customers, conduct operations, grow the business, gain competitive advantage, and achieve performance objectives (Huidan, 2011). There are three steps to planning. A manager must be able to decide what goals to pursue, the best strategy to achieve those goals, and how to use their available resources to achieve those goals as efficient as possible (Bethel University,
The fourth step in the strategic process will include the implementation of strategies by forming projects. “The conceptual framework for strategy implementation lacks the structure and discipline found in strategy formulation. Implementation requires action and completing tasks” (Gray, Larson, 2008).
Correct :The philosophy of cooperation in an organization is shown by high levels of trust, two-way communication, participation, and harmonious industrial relations. The involvement system is the structure and process for improving organizational productivity using employee-staffed committees.
The planning process begins with a situation analysis of the external and internal forces affecting the organization. This examination helps identify and diagnose issues and problems and may bring to the surface alternative goals and plans for the firm. Next, the advantages and disadvantages of these goals and plans should be evaluated against one another. Once a set of goals and a plan have been selected, implementation involves communicating the plan to employees, allocating resources, and making certain that other systems such as rewards and budgets are supporting the plan. Finally, planning requires instituting control systems to monitor progress toward the goals.
Strategic planning within a company is a tool used in companies that help mature areas in total quality management. This type of planning creates a cohesive management system for lower level employees to better adapt in. “Strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the next year or more and how it 's going to get there. Typically, the process is organization-wide, or focused on a major function such as a division, department or other major function”(McNamara, 2008). In order to plan effectively one must first make a clear assessment of the plan and have an analysis on the corporations mission statement and objective.
Every organization should have a strategic plan to achieve its goals in a limited time period, the strategic plan has many variable models. The strategic planning process that we studied needs a collaboration between the organization’s staff, board members, and strategic plan committee. This strategic planning process has ten guide steps.
Carttar, P., 2014. Strategic Planning and Evaluation: Tools for Realizing Results. [Online] Available at: http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/strategic_planning_and_evaluation_tools_for_realizing_results [Accessed 14 November 2014].
Communication is a very intricate part of a successful strategic plan. Collaboration with the board, executive leaders, management team all the way to front-line staff must be informed what the strategic plan is and how it relates to the mission and vision. The mission, vision, values, goals and objectives of the organization must be organizational-wide dissemination. In order to have an effective and efficient strategic plan one must first select a strategic leader to help decide what their mission and vision will be. “Strategic leadership involves creating a vision and strategy that helps the organization succeed at its mission in both the short and the long term” (Spath, Abraham, 2014).
Strategic planning can dictate the success of any organization if properly planned as well as the failure of an organization if not implemented as planned. Strategic planning is all about making choices. It is a process designed to support leaders in being intentional about their goals and methods. Simply stated, strategic planning is a management tool, and like any management tool, it is used for one purpose only—to help an organization do a better job. This portion of the strategic plan will explain why an
The five elements necessary for collaboration to occur are personal belief system, communication skills, interaction processes, programs and services, and supportive context (Friend, 2014).
According to Jacob Morgan, “there are 12 common habits or success factors for collaborative organizations” (Forbes, July 30, 2013). These start by assuring that individual benefits are as important as the corporate benefits. Leaders have the monumental task of showing employees how collaboration will impact them at the end. In this sense, it is very relevant to explain to employees first why they are expected to do something, then how they are going to accomplish it. Leaders must also practice listening to employees as well as getting out of the way, so employees find their rhythm in executing tasks. Besides, collaboration is received better when there is a reward program for teamwork not only for individual performance. This is key because employees feel integrated to achieve the team’s goal rather than just focusing on individual
For a goal-oriented person, a strategic plan can set direction and serves as a template for consistent decision making that moves the organization toward its envisioned future (Zuckerman, 2013). On the other hand, Zuckerman (2013), poses a different perspective that states that strategic planning may not be strategic after all, becomes as I explained before, it can become a checklist technique that lacks innovative practices. However, the outcome of the strategic planning process relates further to the mission and vision of those who are developing the strategies than in the planning within itself. Therefore, the reality is that strategic planning can be as straightforward and complex as an organization wants it to be. Therefore, if an organization envisions growth, the proposal needs to provoke that, and if a team is only planning to organize itself; then, the plan can be subtler. Therefore, organization can review plans as often as yearly and can last as long as five
A familiar organization and stakeholders that ought to be involved in the strategic planning process
In his article, “The Fall and Rise of Strategic Planning,” Henry Mintzberg (1994) provides his views on the process of strategic planning. He offers that most companies and organizations start a strategic planning process with little understanding of the definition or actual purpose of planning. He tends to admonish much of the conventional understanding concerning strategic planning and proposes his interpretations. He states that “the most successful strategies are visions, not plans” (Mintzberg, 1994, p. 107).
Strategic Planning is one of the most fundamental factors in the success of an organization. This research project will discuss the importance of strategic planning as well as the different components of strategic planning. Many organizations fail to accomplish their goals and tasks due to the lacking of strategic planning. In order for their businesses to be successful, organizations need to be well informed about how the strategic planning process works.