LESSON 1: Strategic Planning and Mission Statements

B. DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN and MISSION STATEMENT

The most enlightened organizations include human resources in the development of a strategic plan. Typically, this is a 3-step process:

1. Establish why the organization exists.
2. Define what you want the organization to be like in the near future.
3. Establish exactly what needs to be done—and what needs to be done differently—to reach the stated objectives.

The mission statement is the next step, and this strategy consists of concise, clear, and carefully communicated statements that describe what the organization is today—including its values. It also includes:

• Desired image in the marketplace.
• Target markets for products / services.
• Description of products / services.
• Local, national or global goals (ie: Where your clients are located).

To fully flesh out the mission statement, ask a series of questions to get the information you’ll need, such as these top 12:

1. What are you plans for growth?
2. What is your ethics statement?
3. What challenges are you facing today?
4. What are you competitors doing that you are not?
5. What changes have recently occurred in your industry or service area?
6. How has globalization affected your organization?
7. Have your competitors entered the global market?
8. Is your technology up-to-date? What affect has technology had on your customers?
9. Have your customers’ or members’ expectations changed recently?
10. What effect will changing demographics have on your strategy?
11. What are your distinctive strengths, and how can you build on them?
12. Do you have the resources / manpower to reach your desired goals?

After answering these questions, you can better decide how the organization can capitalize on its strengths, eliminate or minimize its weaknesses, exploit opportunities, and defend against threats.