To truly understand the process and tools for strategic planning, it is essential to work from a comprehensive definition of strategy. According to Eliot Cohen, acclaimed professor, author, and founder of the strategies studies program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), “Strategy is the art of choice that binds means with objectives. It is the highest level of thinking about an organization, and it involves priorities (we will devote resources here, even if that means starting operations there), sequencing (we will do this first, then that), and a theory of victory (we will succeed for the following reasons).”
Strategic planning, therefore, is a process that helps leaders examine the environment surrounding the organization, consider future forces that may affect an organization, consider their organization’s strengths, gaps, and resources, and ultimately chart a course toward success. The strategic planning process includes aspirations, actionable strategies, underlying approaches, prevailing assumptions on what is possible, an expression of the company’s values and culture, and the definition of success. Sundial uses a facilitated strategic planning approach that stimulates strategic thinking while building a profound sense of ownership among the organization’s leaders to ensure implementation and commitment to the strategic plan.
We excel at guiding clients through the strategic planning process, ensuring a comprehensive approach that leads to long-term success. Understanding the essence of strategic planning is crucial to our methodology. It involves making choices that align means with ends, setting priorities, sequencing actions, and developing a theory of victory to achieve specific goals.
Strategy drives how we compete, create value, make choices, and allocate scarce resources. It addresses questions such as who we are as an organization, our needs, where the organization is now, where we want to go, and how we will get there.
A successful strategy provides clear focus, a profound understanding of the external environment, and an objective appraisal of resources and capabilities. It positions an organization for success and increases the probability of success.
Our strategic planning process emphasizes tools such as P.E.S.T. Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Framework, Rummler’s 9 Box Model, TOWS Matrix, and others. These tools enable us to conduct thorough environmental scans, market analyses, organizational assessments, and thematic analyses to identify key trends, challenges, and opportunities that shape strategic decision-making.
Creating a strategic plan is relatively easy. It simply takes a clear process, discipline, commitment, and persistence. However, thinking strategically can be difficult. It requires people to examine the convergence of trends and factors—not just “operational planning.”
As we have learned over our 30 years of crafting strategic plans, the success of a strategy lies in its implementation. Leaders often struggle with effective execution. They chronically overestimate the change they can implement within a given period. At the same time, they underestimate the effect of important contextual factors, such as an organization’s culture, leadership commitment, and resource availability.
We emphasize the importance of quickly gaining momentum, ensuring team alignment, and thinking realistically about resources and timelines rather than “glossy” strategic plans that promise far more than they can deliver. Through interactive workshops, we help leaders formulate strategic questions representing the organization’s central issues. Then, we use critical thinking skills to answer these questions sufficiently. Responses to the strategic questions ultimately form the backbone of the organization’s strategy.
A successful strategy is future-oriented, adaptive to disruptions, and driven by the fundamental questions that define an organization’s purpose, uniqueness, and aspirations. Regardless of how much foresight is incorporated into a set of strategies, the world rarely stands still, and an organization must be able to respond to the unforeseen and unknowable.
In a world of constant disruption, strategic planning becomes more challenging yet critical. Scenario planning allows us to navigate uncertainties and anticipate future trends, ensuring our clients are prepared for various outcomes. Our commitment to strategic thinking, thoughtful analysis, and collaborative decision-making distinguishes us as a trusted partner in developing effective strategic plans that drive success.
A sound strategic plan contains an organization’s mission, vision, values, strategies, goals, and objectives. Getting to these important pieces requires careful consideration of the organization’s stakeholders, mandates, internal strengths and weaknesses, external opportunities and threats, and market realities.
Our strategic planning process is logically structured into seven phases, each designed to deliver actionable insights and innovative strategies tailored to our clients’ needs. Here is a glimpse at how each phase unfolds:
Phase 1: Environmental Scan – Peeking into the Future
During this phase, we dive deep into the waters of organizational insights, interviewing leaders, engaging with stakeholders, and peering into the crystal ball of data to unearth trends that may shape the future. We leave no stone unturned in crafting a strategic blueprint that anticipates and adapts to the winds of change.
Phase 2: Market Analysis – Navigating the Competitive Terrain
In this phase, we embark on a thrilling market analysis adventure, uncovering the secrets of the market jungle. From sizing up competitors to decoding customer behaviors and mapping out the demand landscape, we ensure that we understand the competitive terrain.
Phase 3: Organizational Assessment – Unveiling the Organizational DNA
In this phase, we unravel the mysteries that define an organization’s DNA. From deciphering the history and structure to capturing the culture and talent that fuels the engine, we paint a vibrant portrait of our client’s uniqueness and potential.
Phase 4: Thematic Analysis Report – Weaving a Strategic Tapestry
Here, we channel our inner storytellers to weave a strategic tapestry that draws from the threads of environmental scans and market insights. We create a narrative that illuminates blind spots and unveils unique ideas that hold the power to transform.
Phase 5: Strategic Planning Sessions – Collaborative Innovation
Strategic planning workshops are the heart of our strategic planning journey. Senior executives come together to co-create a vision that inspires, strategies that ignite change, and goals that propel success. Through interactive exercises, strategic questioning, and spirited discussions, we set the stage for a collective journey toward a future defined by purpose and possibility.
Phase 6: Strategic Planning Report Writing – Crafting the Roadmap to Success
In this phase, we weave together a comprehensive document that encapsulates the essence of our client’s journey. From eloquent introductory letters to methodical methodology descriptions, we write a symphony of strategies that harmonize visions, goals, and actions into a roadmap that leads to triumph.
Phase 7: Tactical Planning – Bridging Vision and Action
In this final phase, we translate strategies into actionable plans that bridge vision and action. From accountability meetings to cross-functional teams, we pave the way for efficient and effective execution that transforms plans into reality.
Our commitment to a systematic and collaborative strategic planning process, enriched by thorough analysis, innovative workshops, and comprehensive reporting, positions us as the ideal partner for organizations seeking impactful and sustainable strategies for growth and success. At Sundial, we establish pathways to prosperity that empower organizations to thrive, adapt, and triumph in the ever-evolving business landscape. Success isn’t a destination. It’s a journey. And we’re here to help you every step of the way. Are you ready to unlock the doors to success? Your journey starts here!