THE ROLE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNERThe role or job description of the head of strategic planning, the strategist, or a strategy department.The head of strategic planning has the role of planning and facilitating the organization's strategy formulation or review session. Once the corporate strategy has been developed, the strategist then ensures that SBUs or divisions develop and implement strategic plans aligned to the organizational strategy.Change DesignsCD_5775e18e-8f7f-11e4-a210-ea7327151545Ruth TearleStrategic PlannersStrategic planners, strategists or strategy departments play a number of roles to facilitate the strategy process in their organizations. The job description of a strategist or strategic planner usually has a number of the following roles [documented as goals in this StratML rendition].Role StrategistsStrategy DepartmentsStrategy FacilitatorsStrategists_3d6ca5de-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3cTo document the roles of strategic planners_3d6ca6c4-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3cEffectivenessQualities of a strategic planner - To be effective, a strategic planner needs to have the following qualities:CredibilityCredibility and trust - the ability to work at all levels in the organization.TrustKnowledgeA wide range of knowledge - preferably someone with experience in 3-4 different areas or the organization.Management ExpertiseA formal general business qualification such as an MBA, or a general management experience.FlexibilityThe ability to do highly unstructured work.TeamworkThe ability to work with teams of people both inside and outside the organization. This includes the ability to work with people across all departments as well as with external alliance partners.Self-ConfidenceSelf confidence balanced by humility. People are often jealous of the profile the strategist gets, and this person will have to manage their jealousy.HumilityFacilitationSuperb facilitation skills. The ability to get groups of up to 40 people excited and committed to a new direction.LeadershipLeadership skills. The ability to win trust and get the best out of people.IntelligenceStrong rational, emotional and spiritual intelligence.SystemsAn ability to do systems thinking.RelationshipsTo understand how different areas of the organization, and external trends, relate to one another.VisionTo integrate ideas from many different areas into a common vision.LearningA willingness and desire to continuously learn about new techniques and to acquire new knowledge.InnovationA love of innovation and new ways of doing things.HumourA sense of humour and a sense of fun.FunResearchProvide up to date strategic research_3d6ca76e-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1Company LeadersStrategic PlannersThe head of strategic planning may divide the strategic research ... amongst different members of his/her team.Strategic planners provide up to date strategic research to the leadership of the company in the following areas:External TrendsStudy external trends._3d6ca908-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.1This includes providing their executive teams with up to date research on strategic trends. i.e. Political, Economic, Social, Technological, business and industry trends. They then analyze these trends to determine how these strategic trends could impact on the organization in the future. This is often known as a PEST analysis or trend analysis.Business TrendsStudy business trends._3d6ca9ee-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.2This includes information on the strategies being adopted by global organizations. It may include benchmarking or best practices.MarketsStude changes in customer needs and expectations._3d6cac5a-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.3This includes research on changing customer needs and expectations. This may consist of formal research conducted by external market research companies.Industry TrendsAnalyze industry changes._3d6cad40-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.4This involves analyzing changes within the industry the organization operates within. This includes researching new entrants into the industry, new alliances groupings, new products and services on offer, and changes to distribution channels and manufacturing techniques.CompetitorsConduct competitive research._3d6cae3a-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.4Many strategy departments set up a competitor database. They track competitor strategies. Sometimes they compile comprehensive information on their competitors in the following areas: finance, marketing, human resources, production/manufacturing, distribution, promotion, culture, structures, alliances, technologies.CustomersDetermine how customers view the organization._3d6caee4-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.6CustomersThis involves finding out how existing customers view the organization. This may include monitoring social networking and consumer complaints websites to identify comments customers are making about the organization, or asking existing customers for information about their experience of doing business with your organization. And what they consider your organization's strengths and weaknesses to be.Internal OperationsConduct research on the effectiveness of the internal operations of the organization._3d6caf98-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.7This includes doing research on the effectiveness of the internal operations of the organization. The aim of an internal organizational analysis is to identify the 20% of activities that contribute 80% towards the organization's success, as well as identifying the areas that prevent the organization from operating at its best.New MethodsKeep up to date with new ways of doing strategy itself._3d6cb04c-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c1.8This may include techniques such as participative and creative ways of doing strategic planning that result in buy-in from stakeholders, and formal methodologies such as the balanced score card. This includes balancing IQ, EQ and SQ to ensure people are excited and inspired while they develop new powerful strategies.EducationEducate leaders in strategic planning and thinking._3d6cb10a-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2A prime role of any strategy department is to educate leadership in both strategic planning and strategic thinking. Strategists use a number of approaches to educate their leadership. These include:Courses & WorkshopsConduct formal training courses and workshops._3d6cb1c8-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.1Monthly SessionsOrganize monthly education sessions._3d6cb286-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.2Getting guest speakers in once a month to present information on new trends that might affect the organization.NewslettersCirculate newsletters to SBU heads, divisional and departmental leaders on strategy, strategy implementation and related topics._3d6cb33a-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.3Workshops & ConferencesSpeak at workshops and conferences organized by different divisions in the organization._3d6cb402-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.4ArticlesCirculate interesting articles._3d6cb524-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.5WebsitesProvide information about interesting websites._3d6cb5f6-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.6ConferencingOrganizing conferences in house._3d6cb704-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.7TrainingSend key people on external training courses._3d6cb7f4-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c2.8ToolsProvide strategic tools._3d6cb8ee-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c3The CEO's Step by Step Guide to developing a Strategic Plan -- The strategist provides the CEO, heads of SBU's, divisions and regions with tools designed to make it easier for them to develop powerful strategic plans together with their teams. https://changedesignsportal.worldsecuresystems.com/public/organisation/org_strategy/strategic-planning-CEO.html _3d6cba24-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3cStrategy ReviewsReview strategic plans._3d6cbaec-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4External FacilitatorsOften organizations review their strategic plans at a three-day workshop.Review SessionsOrganize strategy review sessions._3d6cbbd2-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1The head of strategic planning often has the role of organizing the strategy review session and ensuring that SBUs or divisions then develop strategic plans aligned to the organization's new strategic plans.FacilitationHire external facilitators._3d6cbcea-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1Strategic planners often hire external facilitators who are independent of company politics to facilitate these sessions. These facilitators help:Outside-the-Box ThinkingHelp the leadership team think outside of the box._3d6cbdb2-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1.1Plan DevelopmentHelp the organization to develop its strategic plan._3d6cbe84-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1.2Internal CommunicationHelp communicate the organization's plan to the rest of the organization._3d6cbf60-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1.3Sub-PlansHelp SBUs/divisions develop their strategic plans which are aligned to the organization's plan._3d6cc028-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1.4Sub-Plan CommuncationHelp communicate the SBU/divisions plans._3d6cc0fa-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1.5Change ManagementIdentify and manage the changes needed to support the new strategic plan._3d6cc1e0-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.1.1.6Strategic AlignmentEnsure SBUs or divisions develop strategic plans aligned to the organization's new strategic plans._3d6cc2bc-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c4.2Integration & CoordinationAlign the organization's systems, structure and culture with its strategic plan and values._3d6cc38e-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c5Strategic PlannersSystems integrator and coordinator -- Like a spider weaving a web, the head of strategic planning has to ensure that the organizations systems, structure and culture are all aligned to the organization's strategic plan and values. This means that every system and employee pull in the same direction.Language & TerminologyUse the same language and terminology in planning and measurement systems._3d6cc47e-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c5.1Finance DepartmentsChange Management DepartmentsHR DepartmentsThe head of strategic planning works closely together with the finance department and the OD/change management/HR departments to ensure that all planning and measurement systems use the same language and terminology.Data ReuseInput staff goals and objectives once only and apply them in strategic planning, budgeting, performance management, and reporting systems._3d6cc550-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c5.1.1This means that staff members will input their goals and objectives once only - and these goals and objectives will be applied to their strategic planning, budgeting, performance management, and reporting systems.DuplicationEnsure no duplication occurs between different regions, divisions and departments._3d6cc62c-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c5.2The head of strategic planning also analyses all the strategic plans in the organization to ensure that no duplication occurs between different regions, divisions and departments.Cross-Cutting ProjectsTurn aspects of the strategy that fall between divisions or SBU's into cross-cutting projects._3d6cc71c-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c5.3The head of strategic planning checks for aspects of the strategy that are being neglected, because they fall between divisions or SBU's. These will be turned into projects that cut across different SBU's and divisions.New ProjectsDesign and implement new projects to support the organization's strategies and values._3d6cc802-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c5.4The head of strategic planning will also ensures that all new projects are designed and implemented in a way that supports the organization's strategies and values.MonitoringEnsure implementation of the strategic plan._3d6cc8de-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c6Strategic PlannersChange Management SpecialistsMonitoring of strategy -- The head of strategic planning and his team of strategic planners often works with change management specialists to ensure that both the content and the spirit of the strategic plan are being implemented.BarriersRemove barriers._3d6cc9d8-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c6.1Where barriers occur, the strategic planners helps teams to remove these barriers.Structures & SystemsChange structures and systems, as necessary._3d6ccac8-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c6.2This may necessitate a change in structures and systems.Studies & ResearchConduct special, one off feasibility studies and research._3d6ccbb8-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c7Strategic Planning DepartmentsStrategic planning or strategy departments may consist of a single person, or larger teams comprising permanent employees and external consultants. Depending on the size and focus of the organization, the number of resources available, and the expectations of the strategy department's key customers, the head of strategic planning or the internal strategist may perform some or all of the strategy roles listed above.Muse to the CEO or chairman -- The head of strategic planning is often called upon to do special, one off feasibility studies and research into areas that fall outside of the mandate of the divisions or SBU's.Decision MakingAssist CEOs/chairmen make confidential strategic decisions._3d6cccbc-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c7.1He and his team of strategists often assist the CEO/chairman to make confidential strategic decisions.Personal AssistanceServe as personal assistants to chairmen/CEOs._3d6ccdac-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c7.2They act as a high level personal assistants to the chairman/CEO.ConsultationPerform internal consultation._3d6cce9c-f99e-11e7-957a-42cdf7215f3c7.3Often they also act as internal consultants to the leaders of the different divisions and regions.2018-01-14https://changedesignsportal.worldsecuresystems.com/public/organisation/org_strategy/The-role-of-a-strategic-planner.htmlOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net