A four phase process

An organisational strategy is usually created through a process of strategic planning. We suggest following these four phases for each of the ten big strategy decision.

1. Design and prepare

• Get ready for developing a new strategy.
• Decide which of the ten big strategy decisions to focus on for the new strategy and which are still fine as they are.

2. Research and analysis

• Generate evidence, looking both inside your organisation and looking out.
• Analyse the results.
• Validate the findings.

3. Options and decisions

• Identify the options.
• Weigh up the options.
• Make decisions or leave things to emerge.
• Check against your other ten big strategy decisions.

4. Implementation

• Communicate the strategy.
• Implement the strategy.
• Review and refresh.

A strategy cycle

Generally, organisations renew their strategy every three to five years. But as your circumstances change, you may find that you need to revisit some aspects of your strategy or re-do particular exercises to keep the strategy up-to-date. Or you could feel that your current strategy just isn’t working and needs to be totally rethought.

Emergent strategy

Another approach to organisational strategy is to allow it - or elements of it - to emerge over time, without any planning at all. New ideas or ways of doing things can evolve in any part of the organisation. Some ideas take root and spread throughout the organisation because they seem sensible and useful. Unsuccessful ideas are simply left to disappear.

Some organisations have deliberately moved away from any sort of formal strategic planning process, in favour of emergent strategy. Other organisations opt for a mix of planned and flexible elements within their strategy.

Allowing room for change

Flexibility can be particularly helpful for areas of your organisation or its environment that are very uncertain. Deciding when to say yes to new ideas which may not fit within an existing strategic plan is one example of the skill of being strategic. 

Do you actually need a new strategy?  Or if you are short of time, try some quick ways in to strategy.