Planning is not a Product!

PLANNING IS NOT A PRODUCT!

-  Board’s Role in Strategy Formulation and Delivery.

Strategic planning is a crucial process that shapes the future direction of an organisation. It requires dedicated time, resources, conflict resolution, patience, and persistence. The Board plays a pivotal role in this process, working closely with the CEO to set clear strategic objectives that guide the entire organisation.

The planning process offers numerous benefits to the organisation:

a. Vision and Mission Focus: Guides the organisation’s strategy, shapes its identity, establishes the tone, ensures alignment, and provides guidance for strategic decision-making and goal-setting.

b. Future Focus: Assists in identifying emerging trends and developments the organisation must address. By understanding the changing landscape and user needs, organisations can proactively innovate and differentiate themselves by addressing evolving gaps and opportunities.

c. Risk Mitigation: Aids in identifying potential risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. This proactive approach reduces the likelihood of unexpected challenges and ensures the organisation is better prepared to handle uncertainties.

d. Resource Allocation: Identifies priority areas and focuses resources on key strategies and initiatives. This targeted approach minimizes waste and maximizes the return on impact and investment.

e. Builds Ownership: Having a clear vision for the future and a plan to achieve it builds trust and confidence. When the organisation’s purpose aligns with the needs, expectations, and aspirations of stakeholders, they are more likely to have a sense of ownership and support for the organisation.

f. Performance Management: Provides a framework that aligns organisational goals, defines clear objectives, and allocates resources effectively. This facilitates efficient implementation, evaluation, and continuous performance improvement.

g. Defines Leadership: Helps the board determine the characteristics of the leaders needed for succession at both the board and management levels. Strategic planning ensures the organisation has leaders who fit the needs of each organisational maturity cycle it goes through.

Having established the numerous benefits of strategic planning, it is essential to delve into the specific roles and practices the Board should adopt to ensure effective strategy formulation and delivery

What is the Board's role in strategic planning and implementation?

Here are some practices I've found most valuable for the Board in strategic governance:

a. Understand and Envision: Grasp the environment in which the organisation operates, envision the future, and agree on objectives that are aligned with the vision to deliver impact for stakeholders.

b. Set Clear Direction: Establish clear goals and metrics for the management team to develop the relevant strategies and tactics for implementation.

c. Align Resources: Ensure that the necessary resources (people, funding, infrastructure, systems) are in place and aligned with the strategies to achieve the goals within the agreed timeframe.

d. Provide Oversight: Oversee the deliverables and hold management accountable for taking actions to achieve the goals through the implementation of strategies and related tactics.

e. Celebrate and Evaluate: Celebrate milestones while continually evaluating progress and approving direction for course corrections as needed.

In conclusion, the Board's active involvement in strategic planning and implementation is vital for the success and sustainability of an organisation. By adhering to the practices outlined, Boards can ensure their organisations remain aligned with their mission and are well-prepared to navigate an ever-changing environment

‍