Strategic planning and thinking

Intense information flow, fast change, and rising competition are the hallmarks of today's global world as trade barriers continue to fall (Abell, 2008). The leaders are forced to be more imaginative due to these traits, which present new and complex risks to them (Abell, 2008). Any business needs innovation to succeed, but most companies haven't been successful in making it a top priority on their management agenda. Organizations can thrive in the dynamic business climate with the help of strategic planning and thinking (Abell, 2008).

Reasons Why Strategic Thinking and Planning Is Important for Leaders of Nonprofit and Government Organizations

The majority of organizations spend their time responding to changes and seeking unexpected solutions other than anticipating and preparing for them (Burke, 2013). These institutions spend most of their time and money trying to cover for the unexpected changes. This reduces the amount of resources that are available for them to anticipate and prepare for challenges that might face them in future (Campbell, 2014). This scenario forces the organization into a reactive posture (Campbell, 2014). However, through strategic planning, organizations can anticipate changes and prepare in advance (Burke, 2013). This will allow leaders to ensure their organizations are well prepared to face any challenges that might occur in the future and thus save time and money.

Strategic thinking allows leaders to come up with a strategy that has an integrative framework for decisions concerning the direction of the business and utilization of resources. This involves the use of data both internal and external and the synthesis of opinions and perceptions from the leaders and the stakeholders in the organization (Steiner, 2007). This provides a competitive domain for the organization by giving it a corporate strategic advantage.

Strategic thinking and planning allow leaders to incorporate the needs of the customers, organizations and the employees in the process (Betz, 2016). It ensures that the best practices within the industry are adopted by the organization and are included in the vision through benchmarking (Betz, 2016). The leaders are therefore capable of becoming innovative and steering the organization towards success.

Strategic thinking and planning allows leaders to ensure cohesion is fostered within the organization (Betz, 2016). At every phase of the procedure, employees are involved, which gives them a sense of belonging. The involvement allows them to stay engaged during the execution of the operation plans with the organization. The implementation of the operational planning ensures the achievement of the goals and objectives of the organization and ensures that the needs of the customer are met (Betz, 2016).

Experience with Strategic Planning

Strategic planning has become an important part of any organization looking to survive in a competitive business world. Even the organizations that are not for profit require a strategic plan that will ensure they achieve their goals and objectives (Betz, 2016). In the organization that I have been a part of, strategic planning was an important part of business. It included the description of the mission, vision and the core values of the business. The plan included an explanation of the plot on how the organization will acquire their vision and a definition of the strategic goals and objectives. The plan provided a guideline on the contribution of any stakeholder.

Evaluation of the Strategic Planning Process

The strategic planning process applied by the organization allowed it to have a sense of direction. The employees understood the goals and objectives of the organization and thus played their part in ensuring the organization was moving in the right direction. This provided a competitive advantage for the organization and eased the work of the leaders.

Conclusion

Organizational leaders have an obligation to create time to indulge in strategic thinking in their entities. Without strategic thinking and planning, the leaders are at a risk of making quick decisions, which lack creativity and insight. Therefore, the process is an important part of any organization and thus should be applied always.

References

Abell, D.F. (2008). Defining the Business- The Starting Point of Strategic Planning. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Betz, F., (2016). Strategic Thinking and Managing Organizational Change. Australia: Precision Group Limited.

Burke, W. (2013). Organization change: theory and Practice. New York: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Campbell, H. (2014). Managing Organizational Change. London: Kogan page.

Steiner, G. (2007). Strategic Planning. Michigan: Free Press.