The Key Elements of a Strategic Planning Model

Purpose . Measure . Method

Is your strategic planning model customer-focussed? Is your strategic management process-oriented?

The key elements of a strategic planning model for service organisations are Purpose... Measure... Method.

These three together will ensure that you can increase your process capability. But only if you treat them rigorously and methodically.

Purpose describes why your organisation exists
Measure shows you how well you are achieving your Purpose
Method is the means to achieving Purpose

Increasing your organisation's process capability means improving your Method in order to achieve Purpose. It is at once strategic and operational.

Eliminate the false divide

Understanding, Assessing, Improving, U-A-I, lies at the core of any process-oriented strategic planning model.

Understanding your Purpose, Assessing your Measures and Improving your method / operations means that you cannot help but work strategically and operationally at the same time.

Business processes put your customer at the heart of your organisation.

And a process-oriented planning model will give you

contented customers...
satisfied suppliers...
... fewer meetings

Fewer meetings gives you more time to read and think. And thinking time ensures sustainable change.

Read more Strategic Planning articles here or browse our article library below...

The Article Library has three main categories. You'll find articles that will show you how to

Understand your organisation's purpose
Assess its measures
Improve your methods

The Art of Process Mapping

Process mapping is a much maligned technique that, done properly, can be raised to an artform. The articles in this section deal exclusively with understanding the status quo or "business as usual".

Begin with a description of why process mapping is much more than drawing a few flowcharts. Used properly, you can develop such an understanding of your organisation that no decision should have unintended consequences. Surely the goal of any good manager...

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The Trap of Total Quality Management

Total quality management and its associated disciplines are useful for assessing the measures used to rate the performance of the current state of your business. But beware, these measures are a trap for service organisations.

Begin with an appraisal of TQM in service organisations then move on to read why the thinking that works in manufacturing is counter-productive in service. In fact, it makes service worse!

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