Implementing the
Strategic Plan:
Getting Companies to
Walk the Talk
Presented by:
Wm. (Chip) Valutis, PhD
Principal, Valutis Consulting, Inc.
Strategic Planning
What it “should” be:
A continuous, systematic process in
which people make decisions about
intended future outcomes, how
outcomes are to be accomplished,
and how success is measured and
evaluated.
1. A two day retreat that generates
great ideas, but they are quickly
overshadowed by the daily fires,
political games, and/or employees
who don’t want anything new/different
when you return to work.
Strategic Planning
What it Often Becomes:
2. An edict from the
President as to what
people had better start
doing if they expect the
company to stay alive or
intend to keep their jobs.
3. An interesting idea
presented by some
“guru” at a conference
that will get filed under
“Not Applicable to MY
Business” as soon as
you return to the office.
Strategic Planning
What it Often Becomes Cont’d:
Reasons Companies fail to	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
Walk the Talk
1. Neglect to establish the
prerequisites for change
and planning.
2. Lack of an integrated
approach to planning
3. Poor or incomplete planning process
Prerequisites for Successful
Strategic Planning:
1. Awareness
2. Motivation
3. Ability
4. Opportunity
5. Feedback & Reward
Prerequisite #1:
Build Awareness
• Will employees know the plan exists?
• Can they understand what it means?
• Can you ensure the plan clarifies the
end, the beginning and the means?
• Are you prepared to link across
levels?
Prerequisite #2:
Check for Motivation
• Do employees care?
• Will Motivation be internally or
externally generated?
• Are there consequences?
• Is motivation self-sustaining? If
not, how can we keep it going?
blog.mapconsulting.com
Prerequisite #3:
Assess Abilities
• Can employees do what is expected of them?
• Is the raw talent available? Are the necessary
skills trainable?
• Has the workforce/organization been
prepared?
• Do systems support your efforts?
Prerequisite #4:
Create Opportunities
• Are there opportunities to get
involved?
• Is there appropriate influence in
the planning process?
• Does your structure match or
support the plan?
• Is initiative welcomed?
• Are parameters known &
consistently followed?
m4bmarketing.com
Prerequisite #5:
Prepare to Provide Feedback &
Consequences
• How are results measured and impact known?
• Is feedback accurate and is it valued?
• Do employees see a clear connection to
results/rewards?
• Is there accountability?
Top Down Bottom Up
Customized
Integration
An Integrated Approach
Positives Aspects of
Top Down Planning:
• Provides a very focused effort
• Easier to control and implement
• Tends to fit existing paradigm/structure
• Can create faster results (survival needs)
http://www.wpclipart.com
Negative Aspects of
Top Down Planning:
• Limited buy-in, understanding or
commitment from employees
• “It’s not my job” mindset
• Encourages employees to “check their brain
at the door.”
• Builds unhealthy dependency on a select
few; limits long-term growth
http://www.wpclipart.com
Positive Aspects of
Bottom Up Planning:
• Creates a sense of involvement and purpose
• Encourages responsibility, accountability and
entrepreneurship
• Elicits citizenship behavior
• Stimulates innovation, creativity and change
Negative Aspects of
Bottom Up Planning:
• Takes longer and often delivers
inconsistent results
• Reduces accountability and
consequences
• Creates a “warm fuzzy,” but not results
• Get bad decisions faster
Goals of Customized Integration
• Fits the needs of the business
• Fits the needs/abilities of the
workforce
• Is adaptable to changes in both
• Promotes development &
change
achievedstrategies.com
Components of an Effective
Strategic Planning Process
1. A Plan to Plan
2. Clear Mission, Purpose & Values
3. Ten-year Vision
4. Three-year Strategic Objectives
5. Annual Tactical Plan
6. Action Plans and Timetables
7. Roll-out, Monitor & Measure
Concluding Thoughts
• Successful planning requires preparation,
commitment and discipline
• Plans are nothing - planning is everything
• Walk the talk
Valutis Consulting is a full service management consultant firm.
Our approach is to investigae and understand organizational
issues, customize realistic solutions, and design practical
strategies to move clients toward their specific business and
personal goals. Our mission is to help our clients unlock the
potential of their organization and its people.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to schedule an
appointment to discuss your organization’s needs and how we can
help.
(716)634-2553
CHIP@VALUTISCONSULTING.COM
www.valutisconsulting.com - website
www.the4thquarterman.com - blog

Implementing the Strategic Plan

  • 1.
    Implementing the Strategic Plan: GettingCompanies to Walk the Talk Presented by: Wm. (Chip) Valutis, PhD Principal, Valutis Consulting, Inc.
  • 2.
    Strategic Planning What it“should” be: A continuous, systematic process in which people make decisions about intended future outcomes, how outcomes are to be accomplished, and how success is measured and evaluated.
  • 3.
    1. A twoday retreat that generates great ideas, but they are quickly overshadowed by the daily fires, political games, and/or employees who don’t want anything new/different when you return to work. Strategic Planning What it Often Becomes:
  • 4.
    2. An edictfrom the President as to what people had better start doing if they expect the company to stay alive or intend to keep their jobs. 3. An interesting idea presented by some “guru” at a conference that will get filed under “Not Applicable to MY Business” as soon as you return to the office. Strategic Planning What it Often Becomes Cont’d:
  • 5.
    Reasons Companies failto                         Walk the Talk 1. Neglect to establish the prerequisites for change and planning. 2. Lack of an integrated approach to planning 3. Poor or incomplete planning process
  • 6.
    Prerequisites for Successful StrategicPlanning: 1. Awareness 2. Motivation 3. Ability 4. Opportunity 5. Feedback & Reward
  • 7.
    Prerequisite #1: Build Awareness •Will employees know the plan exists? • Can they understand what it means? • Can you ensure the plan clarifies the end, the beginning and the means? • Are you prepared to link across levels?
  • 8.
    Prerequisite #2: Check forMotivation • Do employees care? • Will Motivation be internally or externally generated? • Are there consequences? • Is motivation self-sustaining? If not, how can we keep it going? blog.mapconsulting.com
  • 9.
    Prerequisite #3: Assess Abilities •Can employees do what is expected of them? • Is the raw talent available? Are the necessary skills trainable? • Has the workforce/organization been prepared? • Do systems support your efforts?
  • 10.
    Prerequisite #4: Create Opportunities •Are there opportunities to get involved? • Is there appropriate influence in the planning process? • Does your structure match or support the plan? • Is initiative welcomed? • Are parameters known & consistently followed? m4bmarketing.com
  • 11.
    Prerequisite #5: Prepare toProvide Feedback & Consequences • How are results measured and impact known? • Is feedback accurate and is it valued? • Do employees see a clear connection to results/rewards? • Is there accountability?
  • 12.
    Top Down BottomUp Customized Integration An Integrated Approach
  • 13.
    Positives Aspects of TopDown Planning: • Provides a very focused effort • Easier to control and implement • Tends to fit existing paradigm/structure • Can create faster results (survival needs) http://www.wpclipart.com
  • 14.
    Negative Aspects of TopDown Planning: • Limited buy-in, understanding or commitment from employees • “It’s not my job” mindset • Encourages employees to “check their brain at the door.” • Builds unhealthy dependency on a select few; limits long-term growth http://www.wpclipart.com
  • 15.
    Positive Aspects of BottomUp Planning: • Creates a sense of involvement and purpose • Encourages responsibility, accountability and entrepreneurship • Elicits citizenship behavior • Stimulates innovation, creativity and change
  • 16.
    Negative Aspects of BottomUp Planning: • Takes longer and often delivers inconsistent results • Reduces accountability and consequences • Creates a “warm fuzzy,” but not results • Get bad decisions faster
  • 17.
    Goals of CustomizedIntegration • Fits the needs of the business • Fits the needs/abilities of the workforce • Is adaptable to changes in both • Promotes development & change achievedstrategies.com
  • 18.
    Components of anEffective Strategic Planning Process 1. A Plan to Plan 2. Clear Mission, Purpose & Values 3. Ten-year Vision 4. Three-year Strategic Objectives 5. Annual Tactical Plan 6. Action Plans and Timetables 7. Roll-out, Monitor & Measure
  • 19.
    Concluding Thoughts • Successfulplanning requires preparation, commitment and discipline • Plans are nothing - planning is everything • Walk the talk
  • 20.
    Valutis Consulting isa full service management consultant firm. Our approach is to investigae and understand organizational issues, customize realistic solutions, and design practical strategies to move clients toward their specific business and personal goals. Our mission is to help our clients unlock the potential of their organization and its people. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment to discuss your organization’s needs and how we can help. (716)634-2553 [email protected] www.valutisconsulting.com - website www.the4thquarterman.com - blog