Strategic Planning and Systems Thinking
-- a university of arizona course on methods and approaches for studying the future

Related topics on this site
The "big picture" and map
Change
Foresight
Uncertainties
 
Strategic planning differs from other types of planning in its need detailed evaluation of both external (to the organization) and internal conditions. A strong understanding of foresight (often referred to as environmental scanning within strategic planning literature) is critical for strategic, and the most effective plans are brief and focus on a few key concepts for the organization. In general, strategic plans are guides and not detailed lists of specific activities.
 
While there are a variety of approaches to strategic plan development, these factors are generally present:
Define the mission and vision for the organization
 
Understand the internal and external environment (for inside, it is normally strengths and weaknesses, and for external it is normally opportunities and threats, resulting in the term "SWOT" analyses (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). To do the external evaluation results in a basic futures analysis.
 
Defining a few key areas that are "strategic" (take the organization in areas that are likely to enhance success) based on the SWOT analysis and available resources and other aspects of the organization.
 
While there is a range of formats for strategic planning, my experience is we should keep it simple and readable in the final form -- A few strategic directions and the organization values might suffice; if the plan is short, clear, and allows flexibility to meet changing conditions, it is more likely to be used. Then more detailed implementation plans and monitoring techniques can be used for action items (rather than putting them all in one document)..
 
Strategic Planning Links
Society for College and University Planning
Is Strategic Planning for Technology an Oxymoron? (focuses on information technology)
Getting to the right future - fast track strategic planning (brief overview)
Strategic planning for nonprofit and profit organizations (in depth analysis and relevant links)
 
Systems Thinking
Thinking About Organizations as Systems
10 Useful Ideas on Systems Thinking
Systems Thinking - mega listing of links (Günther Ossimitz)
Systems - the science of how things are connected

Return to "Anticipating the Future" course home page
Prepared by Roger L. Caldwell