Web-based employee performance and talent management solutions including a powerful compensation module. Get your free trial now!
Product Demo | Testimonials | Press Releases | Free Trial
SuccessFactors.com
Customized strategic business planning and development by largest provider of business plans since 1979. SBA-preferred consultant and member of BBB.
mybusinessanalyst.com
In this webcast series, top analysts and influencers offer their perspective on the opportunities and challenges promised by Pervasive BI.
Financial Webcast | Gov. Webcast | Pharm. Webcast
www.spotfire.com
Develop your strategic plan quickly and easily!
Planning Software | Facilitations | Consulting
www.mystrategicplan.com
Complimentary copy of Strategic Planning Tune-up. 10 Great Strategy Tips plus free subscription to Course and Direction - a bimonthly newsletter.
strategytips.cssp.com
Share Practical Business Experience With Senior Executives Worldwide. Attend A Conference Board Event In A City Near You. Register Now!
Webcasts
Conference-Board.org
People Drive Success. Learn How to Unlock the Potential of Your Workforce with People-Ready Business Solutions.
Microsoft.com/PeopleReadyBusiness
Create, Send & Track strategic email marketing campaigns. Accelerate your business at a low price with our Fully Integrated Email Marketing Solution.
Free Trial
www.swiftpage.com
We will customize a strategic business plan that will exceed your company needs and goals. We will work with you to provide the perfect plan.
www.BusinessPlanMyWay.com
Predict Change and Manage the Future with Confidence.
www.BusinessObjects.com
Achieve Team Clarity, Focus and Buy-in for Confident Execution.
www.leadstrat.com
Read the Forrester Report on the Customer Relationship IT Gap.
Microsoft.com/PeopleReadyBusiness
Key questions that focus on factors critical to outside investors and to anyone formulating a marketing and product strategy.
www.lemberg.com
Get a best practices strategic planning program. Schedule a live demo or free trial today.
www.halogensoftware.com(Paid)
Share Practical Business Experience With Senior Executives Worldwide. Attend A Conference Board Event In A City Near You. Register Now!
Webcasts
Conference-Board.org (Paid)
Features tips for creating breakthrough performance and results.
www.lemberg.com
Maxims drawn from Chapter XX of Sir Basil H. Liddell-Hart's book, "Strategy," provided by the Distance Consulting Co.
home.att.net
In this webcast series, top analysts and influencers offer their perspective on the opportunities and challenges promised by Pervasive BI.
Financial Webcast | Gov. Webcast | Pharm. Webcast
www.spotfire.com (Paid)
A step-by-step program for creating a strategic plan and tactical plan.
www.lemberg.com
The article discusses promoting risk-taking and eliminating the fear of failure.
www.lemberg.com
Develop a valid strategic plan in a few short hours. Use software, book, audio or video tools to quickly and easily write your strategic plan.
www.instantstrategist.com(Paid)
People Drive Success. Learn How to Unlock the Potential of Your Workforce with People-Ready Business Solutions.
Microsoft.com/PeopleReadyBusiness (Paid)
Article focused on changing from time management to priority management.
www.lemberg.com
Suggestions on creating or reviewing an annual strategic plan. Includes a list of factors to address business success.
www.lemberg.com
We will customize a strategic business plan that will exceed your company needs and goals. We will work with you to provide the perfect plan.
www.BusinessPlanMyWay.com (Paid)
Complimentary copy of Strategic Planning Tune-up. 10 Great Strategy Tips plus free subscription to Course and Direction - a bimonthly newsletter.
strategytips.cssp.com (Paid)
Tips on creating a set of specific measurable results (SMR) for each department or functional unit to increase performance.
www.lemberg.com
Web site offering information about the Resource-Based Approach (RBA) to company management.
www.strategicassets.co.uk
Customized strategic business planning and development by largest provider of business plans since 1979. SBA-preferred consultant and member of BBB.
mybusinessanalyst.com (Paid)
The article offers tips for businesses to reach towards their objectives.
www.lemberg.com
Create, Send & Track strategic email marketing campaigns. Accelerate your business at a low price with our Fully Integrated Email Marketing Solution.
Free Trial
www.swiftpage.com (Paid)
Web-based employee performance and talent management solutions including a powerful compensation module. Get your free trial now!
Product Demo | Testimonials | Press Releases | Free Trial
SuccessFactors.com (Paid)
Information on strategic planning for nonprofits from the Alliance for Nonprofit Management.
www.allianceonline.org
Develop your strategic plan quickly and easily!
Planning Software | Facilitations | Consulting
www.mystrategicplan.com (Paid)
A business strategist's news and information site based upon the book by Mark McNeilly.
www.suntzu1.com
How to use the 80/20 rule to make a difference in a company's profits and performance.
www.lemberg.com
Predict Change and Manage the Future with Confidence.
www.BusinessObjects.com
Achieve Team Clarity, Focus and Buy-in for Confident Execution.
www.leadstrat.com
Read the Forrester Report on the Customer Relationship IT Gap.
Microsoft.com/PeopleReadyBusiness
Guide to Creating a Small-Business Strategic Plan
A strategic plan gives your company a direct route to success![]() |
![]() | |
Strategic Planning Process Starter
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
The strategic planning process can:
- Establish realistic growth goals and objectives
- Focus resources on key priorities
- Increase staff productivity
- Build strong teams
- Measure progress
Action Steps Toward a Strategic Plan
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Understand what goes into a strategic plan
Basics that should be included in a strategic plan include an executive summary, organizational description, mission and vision statements, goals and strategies. Additional sections may include action plans (specific responsibilities for meeting goals), a budget for reaching goals and instructions for reviewing and communicating the plan.
I recommend:
View a sample strategic plan and get help with the strategic planning process with a free online strategic planner from PlanWare.com.
Spell out your purpose in the strategic plan
One tool to try in the strategic planning process is a grid that asks two questions: Do we have it? Do we really want it? Or, you can also use another tool called SWOT, which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
I recommend:
Discover the key components and benefits of visioning as well as how to create a mission statement. A 10-step checklist from Improve.org shows how strategic management requires a vision. Find a SWOT analysis exercise and other strategic planning process tools at StrategicAdvantage.com. Get help with competitive analysis, strategic marketing and marketing strategy from the consultants listed on Business.com.
Create an action plan
Detail the actions to be taken in order to reach your business strategy goals. Always specify who is responsible for doing what and when. Within the first 90 days, hold regular reviews, so that team members know what is expected of them. Designate point-persons who measure the strategic plan every quarter for its success along the way. Also consider putting people in teams of two so that they're accountable to each other.
I recommend:
Discover how to draw up an action plan at MindTools.com.
Carry out your strategic plan
Break down the whole strategic plan into small steps. You might use strategies to reach your goal, such as marketing on the Internet. These strategies will likely shift as you progress. Action plans carry out the strategies and are usually expressed in quantifiable objectives, such as a 10 percent increase in sales. Hand out copies of the strategic plan to all team members. Remember to regularly praise them for meeting business strategy goals.
I recommend:
Find strategic planning process models, paradigms and sample plans at ManagementHelp.org.
Consider hiring a consultant
If you've never written a strategic management plan, or your first attempt wasn't successful, turn to a professional for help. Remember to work together to set achievable goals that feel realistic.
I recommend:
Find consultants who specialize in strategic planning, along with strategic management seminars and other tools, at the Organized Change Consultancy or Accenture.com. Consider technology solutions, such as the software, audio seminars and e-books from InstantStrategist.com or the business strategy software vendors and consultants listed on Business.com.
Tips & Tactics to Master Strategic Management
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide- Take your team to a quiet place outside the office so that conversations can flow freely.
- Create a concise, clear, actionable timeline.
- Update your business strategy plan every year.
- The strategic planning process takes focus. Keep the phone and Internet off limits during strategic management discussions.
- Try to complete the strategic planning process within three months, so that planning doesn't lose its momentum.












