Essay Strategic Plan, Part I: Conceptualizing a Business

| Most successful companies utilize business strategic planning to set priorities and goals for the organization's future; outcomes include short-term goals and long-term strategies.  A clearly written, well designed strategic plan can align business units, divisions and employees so that the vision of the management team and the mission of the company can be fulfilled.  As companies evolve and the environment changes it is critical for companies to maintain a disciplined execution of the strategic plan.However, if they are not

A strategic plan is a tool that delivers guidance in achieving a mission or goal with maximum proficiency and control for an organization. Strategic planning is used to transform and revitalize organizations. The plan helps provide an inclusive understanding of opportunities and challenges both internally and externally for the organization. The plan delivers an assessment of the strengths and limitations that are realistic within the company. A well-developed strategic plan will offer a comprehensive approach and empowerment for the stakeholders involved. It is an opportunity for learning and understanding priorities that will drive the business to succeed. Jones (2010), describes how in health care organizations, strategic plans

Profit is the money that a business earns in revenue, minus investments, and the cost of salaries.

In the economy today every business has a need for a strategic plan. Strategic plans are most vital for small businesses to have a strategic plan because they comprise the majority of local businesses and are more likely not to survive. No matter if the business is small or large it is important to keep this plan updated and evaluated to the businesses current standings. Typically a plan should focus on the following two to three years when it is being created.

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

Strategic Planning is the process of developing and maintaining a strategic fit between the organizations goals and capabilities as well as emerging market conditions and opportunities. This process begins with a clear company mission statement. However, this is only a small piece of a dynamic and perpetual process. Other activities involved with strategic planning also include setting supporting organizational objectives, designing a sound product mix as well as coordinating functional strategies. Strategic planning works to set the groundwork for the rest of the subsidiary planning functions in the company.

Strategic planning involves making decisions about the organization’s long-term goals and strategies and how the organization decides to implement their goals (Bateman, Snell, Konopaske, pg. 113). Strategies help organizations to have a clear perspective on how to go about accomplishing the goals they have in place. All organizations have a clear vision of what their mission and purpose as a company is, they know how to fulfill the mission, vision, and purpose and they know how to ensure that they accomplish all their goals. However, the route the organization takes to define these things determines how effective they will be.

The mission statement is a written document that an organization declares its core purpose. The mission statements defines the essence of the organizations needs and their core purpose of their existence. It describes the role that they play in the community and portrays the club’s image, charisma, and individuality. If the mission statement is written correctly it can provide an explanation to internal and external individuals on what the organization stands for. Some of the components that are key to the mission statement are members, product and service, market, technology and philosophy are just a few that should be in the mission statement. Without and effective mission statement to inspire your employees and members on why you exist it won’t mean anything to them. Here is an example of a mission statement from Kohl’s

A business plan is a road map for a team or business and it can be used, as an eternal tool for potential customers and partners. The business plan should describe in details the entire business venture, technology behind it, the size of the target market, customers, competition, business model, team, financial needs and exit strategy. The business plan gives a company insight and allows them to think things through early enough in the process to ensure they have a well defined venture goals and objectives. It also gives the business direction to a clear path for the team to follow and implement on their venture.

A mission statement is a “formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization or individual.” (Oxford) Mission statements are important in business because it can be used to determine a company's short and long-term goals. Intelligent business owners use mission statements to remind its employees why the company exists and how the company will be or continue to be successful. Dunkin Donuts’ mission and vision statement is simple. It is “to deliver high quality food and beverages quickly, affordably and conveniently in a welcoming environment.” Dunkin Donuts being a fast food chain, has been relied on by its customers to provide coffee and breakfast at a fast pace. This is how each individual Dunkin Donuts gains and keeps customers. When the staff are all on the same page, the business runs smoothly, and customers remain happy, resulting in repeat customers. Word travels fast and so does the coffee, with that in mind. Keeping customers happy and meeting their needs will keep this business striving.

Per John M. Bryson, strategic planning, if properly conducted, can help the leaders and managers of public and non-profit organizations think, learn and act tactically. Strategic planning enables organizational leaders and managers to first identify their organization’s mission and/or purpose. Thereafter, the planning process permits these leaders to pinpoint the actions and activities that will enable the organization to achieve its mission. Finally, the planning process requires the organizational leaders to synthesize objectives and activities into a blueprint or concrete plan of action under which the organization will conduct its business.

According to literature, strategic planning is vital for strategic management. Burgelman (1994) points that strategic planning is a process which decides how, when and who is going to plan and how the results will be implemented. Drucker (1974) identified that the planning for an organization’s future that includes setting major overall objectives, the determination of basic approaches to be used in

In this paper, I will select an organization and prepare a strategic plan to grow the business over the next three years. This strategic plan will include certain criteria. That criteria includes:

Strategic planning is the process of gathering information from stakeholders, market players, professional entity, and government agency. The purpose of gathering information is formulating a realistic and a workable framework that any organization can implement and work with. Evaluation of information is a key aspect in determine the kind of plans that the organization wish to a chive over certain a period. Strategic planning ensures the implementation is, crafted well, and parties involved be acquitted with it. Developing a good Strategic plan helps a company to implement its missions and visions effectively, and helps the company to evaluate

Strategic Planning set the stage for the rest of the planning in the firm. It involves defining a clear company mission, setting supporting company objectives, designing a sound business portfolio and coordinating functional strategies. At corporate level the company first defines its overall purpose and mission.