Introduction
Strategic planning has been employed mainly in business environments to shape long-term future. This is mainly because sustainability of such businesses is crucial to their competitiveness. In the recent past, strategic planning has been implemented in educational institutions and organizations.
This has resulted in mixed reactions about its achievements. Moreover, its effectiveness in most businesses has also received mixed reactions. This poses the question as to how and when it can be effective. Several theorists have suggested ways of ensuring strategic planning is successfully implemented in businesses and educational centers as well as other organizations.
In some cases, strategic planning tries to define organization’s direction and plan for the future. Furthermore, businesses use it to overcome or avoid completion. It is quite important to note that for strategic planning to be effectively implemented; those concerned must ensure that its conditions are met. If this is not done, the outcome is usually unpredictable.
This paper will examine strategic planning in educational organizations, conditions for its implementation, pros and cons as well as provide a recommendation on its use as a change in elementary work setting (Reeves, 2007, P. 1).
Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning refers to the process of shaping an organization or an individual’s future. It may also imply that a mission is desired and therefore every effort is channeled towards its achievement. Long-term future of any organization is dependent on its performance. In addition, the organization must have a vision or picture that conveys its desired future.
All these should be in place before starting the process of strategic planning. Again, it is crucial to note that strategic planning assumes a collaborative process. This may disappoint those hoping to oversee implementation as detailed in the strategic plan.
Strategic planning is inclusive and requires collaboration for achievement of goals. The plan usually defines a number (small, for instance, 10) of strategic objectives, which should be met to the desired goal or vision of such an organization. This involves an exclusive examination of approaches and process of strategic planning to achieve success. These are as stated below.
Approaches to Strategic Planning
Implementation of strategic planning involves choice of different approaches. These include Future search, SWOT, ZOPP/OOP/LFA, and Open space, among others. These approaches share some similar principles such as the belief that future can always be shaped.
The approaches also share a belief in “whole system”, which means that all stakeholders need to be involved for any success to be achieved. Similarly, the approaches have differences, which are observed in their strengths and weaknesses.
Future search
This kind of approach is commonly observed in non-business organizations. It involves planning and executing actions found to enjoy mutual support. It emphasizes on “leap forward” technique, in which the organization identifies its future condition and tries to reach it.
SWOT
SWOT is very common in business environments. This is mainly because it tries to evaluate the weaknesses, strengths and opportunities, as well as threats to survival of the business.
ZOPP/OOP/LFA
This terms refers to (LFA) Logical framework approach which is sometimes known as (OOPP) Objective oriented project planning or ZOPP in German, This type of approach emphasizes on identifying the problems by use of cause effective analysis method and then looks at ways of alleviating them.
Open space
This method of approach is a precursor to the initial approach, Future search. It goes on with already agreed topics and agenda. It is usually brought forward by a facilitator who allows people to nominate pressing issues and is ready to take responsibility (Schmoker, 2004, P. 5).
Processes of Strategic Planning
Strategic planning involves several processes for its requirements to be met. These processes are sequential and involve various activities. Educational organizations need to follow a systematic process in strategic management to achieve their goals.
These include articulation of core values for institution or educational organization, developing of its mission statement, vision statement, and determining of the organization’s strategic objectives. Further, on, the organization should define its main activities plus responsibilities and then disseminate as well as implement its plan. Finally, the organization should monitor outcomes of its activities and amend its plan as necessary.
These processes entail various steps as shown above. Moreover, each of these steps involves several activities. In order to achieve the required results, all steps above have to be executed. In addition, execution of these steps should be in their correct order.
In case executions are done in a different manner, which is not in the correct order, latter processes would be compromised. This may lead to eventual failure of the whole process. These processes should therefore be followed as prescribed to avoid mixed results.
Planning at the Individual and Organizational Level
Planning is an aspect that is crucial both at the individual level as well as the organizational level. For an individual or organization to achieve its goals, there must be a well laid down plan on how to go about achieving the goals and this will involve extensive planning. As already outlined above, strategic planning is a process which involves various stages and each stage is crucial in the attainment of the ultimate goal.
Strategic planning at an organizational level is always done in line with the mission and vision of the organization. The mission and vision always acts as a guideline to the planning of a company.
It also becomes very important to conduct what is known as an environmental scan. This mainly involves three components which are, making an analysis of the firm, making an analysis of the industry in which the firm belongs and looking other external factors which are likely to affect the business of the firm. It is after carrying an extensive analysis that it now becomes necessary to formulate strategy.
A strategy in this case will be a go ahead plan that will be formulated based on the pertinent information gathered. What the follows is to implement the strategy formulated. This is done with the help of budgets, programs and procedures.
The final aspect of planning at organization and individual levels is the evaluation which involves a constant monitoring of the strategy to see to what extent it has been successful in enabling the firm to achieve its goals.
Effectiveness of the planning process
How effective is the process of planning both at the individual and organizational level? Some business people especially those who are starting out normally ask themselves the need to plan and how it will help in increasing the profitability of your business. A wise saying goes like ‘ If you do not know where you are going, you will not know when you get there.’
This simply means that failure to plan is planning to fail. When an organization does not have a plan, they will not know the goals and objectives that they will work towards and they will therefore not know where they are making any progress and or impact in the market.
It is important for any organization to have various ways and means to measure how effective the strategic plan that has been put in place is. This will basically involve ensuring or monitoring that the strategy formulated remains in line with goals, objectives, mission and vision of the organization.
Strategy planning index is one way of measuring whether an organization has been moving in tandem with the laid down plans. More often, strategies formulated by organizations always become dysfunctional because of the remote understanding of the need to implement the strategy as planned and also the lack of will by those who are senior in the management of the organization to ensure that the organization sticks to the plan.
Using this tool, organizations not only become efficient but they also tend towards customers, taking the affairs more seriously and personally and this enhances the growth of the company thereby increasing profitability. Organizations are therefore able to benchmark themselves both internally and externally.
Merits of the strategic planning process in schools and other organizations
Strategic planning has several advantages to organizations. These include increasing probability of an organization’s survival, increasing their market share, in case of other organizations, and motivating other stakeholders within the organization. Other advantages include improving the organization’s competitiveness and planning of quantum leap, which elevates it to a new level.
It also enables the organization to renew its direction in case plan is for renewal. Strategic planning is important in allowing for smooth mergers and acquisitions of organization as it conveys its mission and the prevailing position. Strategic planning is also important in helping the organization to manage both internal and external factors that may affect it.
Drawbacks of the strategic planning process in schools and other organizations
Strategic planning is very important in monitoring the progress of organizations and schools. However, this is not easy as any mistake in following the laid out strategic plan compromises latter stages of the whole process. This is a drawback since such failures would mean starting the whole process a fresh and would be more expensive as well as time wasting.
Other disadvantages include the fact that, in a school setting, some targets such a behavior of students may not be quantified. In essence, methods of evaluating the results may not be valid. Strategic planning has several strict conditions that may not apply in school settings; this may not be helpful for the organization (Evans, 2007, P. 2).
Conditions under which strategic planning is both effective and ineffective
Strategic planning can only be effective if done according to the prescribed order. This involves several steps and processes, which include activities that have to be done in accordance with the strategic plan. On the other hand, strategic planning cannot be effective if done without following correct order. This compromises the latter stages of strategic process and leads to a failure (Bonstingl, 2009, P. 3).
Strategic Planning and change in your work setting
Strategic planning was mainly used in business settings. Its adoption in school settings has outputted mixed results since school settings involve many activities and stakeholders. This starts from the staff, parents to students, among other stakeholders.
Since strategic planning involves inclusion of all stakeholders, and given the gap between these groups of individuals in school setting, implementing strategic plan is quite involving.
However, when done in accordance with the correct procedure, which may involve combination of its approaches, it can be successful. Change in work setting can therefore be attained by adopting and implementing strategic planning (Basham & Lunenburg, 1989, p. 29).
Suggestions on how to improve and enhance planning and implementing change in organizations
A change is as good as a rest. It is not always easy to introduce change within an organization because more often there is always resistance from people who find it difficult to adapt to change. For an organization to achieve its ultimate goal, it must ensure that its planning is proper and that employees learn to adopt to new changes such as technological advancements.
One way of enhancing and improving planning within an organization is to ensure that every person within the organization is brought on board. Many a times, the planning process is done by the top and senior management in an organization to the exclusion of the subordinate employees.
This means that when it comes to the implementation of the planning strategy, the subordinates become cold since they were not engaged or consulted during the initial stages.
Another way of enhancing planning is to ensure that plans are made both short term and long term. Short term will address short term goals while long terms will address long terms goals. With this kind of categorization, it becomes easier to assess the progress of performance of the organization and to detect when the firm is going astray and deviating for the initials goals and plans.
It is also through planning that an organization is able to expand and is even able to explore new ventures. The growth and profitability of a company revolves around proper planning.
This is because even have a wide and large clientele will involve planning by ensuring that the existing clientele is happy and satisfied with what the organization is offering. One may therefore say that planning is the pillar or one of the key tenets of the success of an organization.
Conclusion
Strategic Planning refers to the process of shaping an organization or an individual’s future. More often than not, it has been employed in business environments to shape their long-term futures. This is mainly because sustainability of such businesses is crucial to their competitiveness. In the recent past, strategic planning has been implemented in educational institutions and organizations.
This has resulted in mixed reactions concerning its achievements. Moreover, its effectiveness in most businesses has also received mixed reactions. The paper examines four main approaches to strategic planning along with processes involved in strategic planning. These approaches are Future search, SWOT, ZOPP/OOP/LFA, and Open space, among others.
In addition, the processes include among others, articulation of core values for institution or educational organization, developing of its mission statement, vision statement, and determining of the organization’s strategic objectives.
Strategic planning has several advantages, which include among others, increasing the probability of an organization’s survival. Strategic planning is therefore important in educational organizations (Cook, 1988, p. 25).
Recommendation
Just as Strategic planning is important in business sector, it is also necessary in educational organizations. However, this must be done in accordance with the provided sequence of steps. Organizations should therefore ensure that all the laid out procedures are followed as agreed to succeed in strategic planning (McCune, 1986, p. 45).
Reference List
Basham, V., & Lunenburg, F. (1989). Strategic planning, student achievement and school district financial and demographic factors. Planning and Changing, 20(3), 158–171.
Bonstingl, J. J. (2009). Strategic planning during tough times. Leadership, 38(3), 8-10. Web.
Cook, B. (1988). Strategic planning for America’s schools. Arlington, VA: American Association of School Administrators.
Evans, R. (2007). The case against strategic planning. Independent School, 67(1), 92-104. Web.
McCune, S. (1986). Strategic planning for educators. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Reeves, D. B. (2007). Making strategic planning work. Educational Leadership, 65(4), 86-87. Web.
Schmoker, M. (2004). Tipping point: From feckless reform to substantive instructional improvement. Phi Delta Kappan, 85(6), 424-432. Web.