Strategic/Business Planning Services:
Strategic planning is one of the most important roles of a management team.
It can also be one of the most difficult. As result, it is often one
of the roles that never makes it to the top of the "to-do" list.
Strategic and business plans can perform a wide array of functions
simultaneously:
1. Often there are specific issues or opportunities that command
management's attention, yet it is frequently the case that these issues or
opportunities are only part of the picture. They may be symptoms or
indicators of larger topics. The strategic planning process can be an
excellent mechanism to unearth the whole topic, to get all of the ideas and
concerns out on the table at the same time, and then to develop a plan to
effectively and efficiently deal with them.
2. A strategic plan can provide a solid context for how we do our jobs on a
daily basis. Knowing where we are going, why we are going there, and
how we are going to get there provides us valuable information to aid in our
daily decisions.
3. In a business of any size, a strategic plan is a superb communication
tool to employees, financial institutions, even customers and suppliers.
When these groups also know where you are trying to go, it is amazing how
much more supportive they can be.
4. The process of planning is extremely healthy. It enhances
understanding and teamwork in a management team. It creates a common
goal that everyone will strive to achieve.
In addition to decades of experience facilitating this process, Ascent has developed web-based tools to make the process more productive and
cost-effective. Ascent can provide a framework upon
which to build your plan, can provide training to your team in how to
develop the plan, can facilitate the planning meetings, or can provide a
comprehensive service that will result in a finished document.
Ascent can also provide follow-up services to develop the key
elements for effective implementation of the plan once it is developed.
Planning Process Development
Planning is a process. It is like a
journey. It is possible to go through the process of developing a plan
without a road map, but as with a journey, it is more efficient and
rewarding knowing both the destination and the route ahead of time.
Ascent can work with company management to determine the best course of action for
your company to take in developing your plans. The process will be tailored
to meet your needs.
Plan Development Training
Ascent has decades of experience in developing and implementing successful
plans. Learning fundamental concepts can make the process of planning more
productive, and will facilitate more independent planning efforts in the
future. Training can cover:
v
Planning basics
v
Defining terms for common
understanding
v
Options for the planning
process
v
Key components of a typical
plan
v
Plan formats
v
Roles in the development of
the plan
v
Inter-relationships between
different plans in the same company
v
Integration of the plan into
the corporate culture
v
Implementation of the plan
v
Monitoring plan results and
redirecting
v
Reward mechanisms
