how to write a foreword for a strategic plan

After extensive consultations with various stakeholders of the University, a new Strategic Plan for 2016-2022 has been formulated. A strategic plan is only effective when the writing and thinking is clear, since the intent is to help an organization keep to its mission through programs and capacity, while also building stakeholder engagement. Your values should align with your vision statement and highlight your strengths while mitigating weaknesses. 3. By writing a foreword, a person expresses their approval or support for the research and its author. This will involve a lot of ongoing management to ensure everyone stays on task. iBossWell, Inc.s McNerney reiterates that there are not hard and fast definitions for the terms goals and objectives, as well as many other strategic planning concepts. ASPs Stockmal has some questions for you to ask yourself about picking performance indicators. Its essential that you know how each stakeholder group thinks about these that you focus on their point of view, not your own. endobj In this book, Tim explains how to build your plan around a core (he calls it the "heart") strategic combination of market, identity, and focus. Take, for example, the international accounting firm KPMG. Manage and distribute assets, and see how they perform. You need implementation elements of the plan to be successful, McNerney says, adding that some people refer to objectives as tactics, actions, and many other terms. The strategic themes attest to our commitment to achieve excellence through our core functions of creation, dissemination and exchange of knowledge, as well as our duty to engage stakeholders and the community. 19 0 obj You need to make sure someone is good, so there needs to be a vetting process, he says. 7. Appreciated the insights. 1 0 obj If you need assistance writing a comprehensive implementation plan for your organization, this article can guide you through the process. You can use many models and formats to create your strategic plan (read more about them in this article). Connect everyone on one collaborative platform. But then you become aware that some of the employees are also owners, and the complexity grows. Be prepared for what you discover about yourself. Stakeholders can be great strategists. Capture this in your strategic goals, which should have tactics tied to each . %PDF-1.5 Theyre stakeholder-focused, no-stone-unturned companies that defy expectations in their ability to pull together a diverse population of employees to produce amazing results. Its target customers arent mums and dads lodging their annual tax returns, or small businesses that need help with their accounts. Streamline your construction project lifecycle. Step 2 - Introduction. The answers to these questions make up the meat of the planning document. Be prepared to adjust. When writing your performance indicators, pay attention to the following: Define how often you need to report results. These indicators will show you what success looks like and ensure accountability. So, while selecting a writer for a foreword, an author seeks to choose the best person to introduce them and their work. Strategic planning is a prompt or a facilitator for fostering strategic thinking, acting, and learning, says Bryson. What some people call an objective, others would call a KPI. They key, she explains, is to decide what the terms mean in your organization, explain the definitions to key stakeholders, and stick to those definitions. Do you have the team members to accomplish the objectives you have outlined in order to reach your goals? Vision statements should be short (a few sentences). This may seem obvious, but the person who wants to win a marathon needs to possess a fine balance of long-term strategy and shorter-term tactics to overcome the challenge. The contents of your foreword should not provide detailed information about the subject matter. stream These are the key decision-making criteria that stakeholders use when interacting with your business. Note that objectives can cover several areas. Breaking down the process further, some strategic planners use the terms strategies and tactics to label ways to achieve objectives. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). A foreword is a short chapter that's included in a book's front matter. Organize, manage, and review content production. The following checklist will help you keep track of what you have done and what you still need to do. Here are seven steps to consider: 1. youre very welcome, were glad you found the post helpful :). I like the idea that the real plan is not the output format, but what's supposed to happen, and why, and when, and how much money. This section is the bulk of your strategic plan. Below is additional advice for personal strategic plans: There are things you can control and things you cannot. Quickly automate repetitive tasks and processes. In the tertiary education sector, it is especially important to develop a proactive approach in light of changing expectations of society, evolving professional demands, and increasing competition in the local and regional contexts. The mission provides items to act upon, and the vision offers goals to aspire to. Smartsheet Contributor Over the years, Lingnan University's outstanding teaching, learning, scholarship and community engagement have demonstrated the values of its liberal arts education in Hong Kong's higher education sector. Instead, be honest about the strengths that you see in the author. endobj endobj I wanted to see the examples as well but they were unavailable. This is actually quite effective. The post was very helpful because I was asked by the PhD students i supervised to write a foreword for her book. The fourth step is to identify what these stakeholder groups want from you. Some writers like to offer a brief summary, while others prefer to highlight their favorite parts of the book. Since September 11, 2001, the United States has established a strong and sophisticated counterterrorism enterprise to reduce the threat of large-scale terrorist attacks on the homeland. But they placed little attention on, and certainly failed to measure, the return volley. If you are going to write a foreword for your readers, it is important that you write for the book's target market. Thank-you for giving pointers on writing a foreward. We call on the continued support of the entire University community to make this plan a success. 2. Identify your key competitors, and define what you see as their strengths and weaknesses. Introduce yourself. Business architecture is important, which Stockmal says is building the capabilities the organization needs to fulfill its strategy. He adds that nothing happens if there is no budget workers to do the work necessary to drive change. Next, identify your target customers. What are the benefits of writing a Strategic Plan? Dont feel pressured to put anything and everything into this section executive summaries should only be about one to two pages long and include the main points of the strategic plan. Do not take shortcuts in the research phase that will lead to bad information coming out further in the process. In this article, youll learn the basics of writing a strategic plan, what to include, common challenges, and more. Every company is unique. You should include the following sections: An execution plan that identifies who manages and monitors the plan, An evaluation plan that shows how you plan to measure the successes and setbacks that come with implementation. That said, make the effort to edit and refine your mission statement. You'll include the tactics that will help you get there, too. You can too if you become systematic in your approach. Early on in the process, you need to talk about what you are doing and why and how you are doing it. An example goal: Increase website fundraising. Whether you are a nonprofit, a school, or a for-profit entity, strategic plans will look at where you are and how you will get to where you want to go. How are matters inside your company? The HR team and senior management would bend over backwards to identify what would satisfy staff. Looking too far ahead can be daunting, especially for a new or changing company. Each section of a book has its own purpose and goals, from the front matter to the appendix. I have one such document in front of me as I write this. But if its serious and contemplative, try to maintain a similar vibe. but it can prove beneficial for the author of the foreword as well as the author of the book. The plan may be in the form of a document, a presentation, or another format. Vision statements should accomplish the following: Look at and project about five to 10 years ahead. Readiness assessment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The steps in creating a plan for a department are the same as for an overall strategic plan, but the mission statement, vision, SWOT analysis, goals, objectives, and so on are specific to only the people in your department. Strategic planning in a school is different from others because there are no markets to explore, products to produce, clients to woo, or adjustable timelines. In this column, let's focus on how we request Forewords, Prefaces and Endorsements from allies to complete an upcoming book. apply and produce professional results in his/her own field. Key performance indicators (KPIs) can show you how your business is progressing. In contrast,the foreword is written by someone else and is meant to endorse the author and their work. You want to stretch your limits, but not make them too difficult to reach. By utilizing a more logical, systematic, and objective approach, these organizations are more proactive than reactive in shaping their own future. At the same time, the United States is confronting a dynamic range of national security challenges, including strategic competition, cybersecurity . He says it is easier to cut than to create something. Take the example of a dairy cooperative I worked with recently. This is your chance to define the way your company will make decisions based on goals, culture, and ethics. I have watched his children become established as godly young people, and have appreciated deeply the contributions this family has brought to this city, first to Metro Christian Fellowship, and now to the House of Prayer. Students are always our first priority at Lingnan as we pride ourselves on transforming young hearts and minds through a unique learning experience. I want to keep it simple, so organizations can be successful in achieving [the strategic plan], McNerney explains. endobj At GAD we believe that those skills can help governments in highly . What are your competitors doing? You need to have flexibility both on the plan content and in the process.. &*d8Egz\co/{G Post the plan on the employee intranet, along with key highlights and a way to track progress. One of the first steps is committing to a process, then determining how youre going to do it, McNerney explains. The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Note the data source where you will get your information to measure and track. The answer (or answers) to the first question where are we now? Think of it as your roadmap. Goals form the basis of your strategic plan. ElA)Z{%e,M |+a12%7(sF_bnXg_ In this section, also include your SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. But first, let us briefly discuss what a foreword is and why and where we should write a foreword. Objectives often begin with the words increase or decrease because they are quantifiable and measurable. No-code required. <> :). Third, figure out what these stakeholders want from you. If you distribute it outside of your company, you might want to attach a confidentiality waiver. Strategic planning is often continuous for nonprofits. Because it functions as a review of the entire document, write the executive summary after you complete the rest of your strategic plan. Its other key stakeholders were distributors; customers-retail; customers-industrial/food service; consumers; and employees. Performing this analysis will help you figure out what you do best and how you compare to your competition. And, the best way to do so is through the process of planning. It starts with a vision statement, moves on to strategic themes (six in all) and culminates in 28 strategic goals. The latter is a list of actions interspersed with a sprinkling of desired results, all utterly useless in terms of strategy. Get a free cross-functional project template. Look at the positive instead of what you will give up. These are the people you want to keep because they are invested, he says. For a nonprofit, the strategic plans purpose is mainly how to best advance the mission. Share the company description with everyone in your organization. In this example, your objectives could be: Approach three new possible clients each month. In addition to guiding your entire company, it also helps your employees make decisions that move them toward the companys overall mission and goals. Many people confuse goals and objectives, thinking the terms are interchangeable, but many argue that the two are distinct. stream We described these as: farmers-as-shareholders and farmers-as-suppliers. <> <> However, you will likely need to include some basic sections, regardless of the particular method you choose (even if the order and way you present them vary). Once you know what you do well, you can exploit your strengths to your advantage. If an ally will write a short note of endorsement (or a full-scale Foreword or Preface), we can use the best lines in several ways: Fourth, figure out what you want from them. Once you've identified a path forward, you'll need a framework in place to help carry it out. If something does not fit within your personal mission, you shouldnt do it. Its like drawing a map for your company. 8 0 obj The facilitators also need to be able to handle conflict and diffuse situations by separating idea generation from judgement. The industry analysis carries a price, but also provides many benefits. Assess the business Evaluate the business and its current performance using proven assessment tools. A KPI dashboard can help you set up and track your performance and for more information about setting up a KPI dashboard, this article can help. Remember, several objectives and action steps will likely come from each goal. A nonprofit has to make the community care about its cause. Vision 2. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. the thesis serves as a bridge between student and working life. The key to writing a strong executive summary is being clear and concise. Package your entire business program or project into a WorkApp in minutes. Create Awesome Documents and Visuals With Template.net. Happy writing :). A foreword is a short introductory portion of a non-fiction book, typically written by someone other than the author. How to Write a Foreward. Stockmal also says performance indicators cannot focus on only one thing at the detriment of another. Most of your resources will fall into three categories: money, people, and assets. If you hold a meeting, make sure you and other key planners are prepared to handle the feedback and discussion that will arise. A strategic plan is the end result of an intentional planning effort. I. Get in front of employees and present the plan [to get everyone involved]. Hofmeyer explains his research has shown that people stay with companies not always because of money, but often because they buy into the organizations vision and want to play a part in helping it get where it wants to go. 1. This resource will serve as a step-by-step overview of the strategic planning process. HBR Learnings online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Strategy Planning and Execution. Sadly, strategic plans have a tendency to fail when nobody periodically assesses progress. This can come from a variety of sources including: in-depth interviews of stakeholders, listening to stakeholder stories about their experience with you and the competition, feedback via your complaint and suggestion systems, focus groups and even casual conversations with stakeholders. \u|;co|=c6~pLN$HG$peQ?oDAV-z|N;D%K"=YH?qw:R;gEiyWG'sXTSG{H =X>h)=I&u* 9l Develop Strategic Goals and Objectives 7. The sixth step is continuous improvement. Owner/CEO, Strategy Director. For example, instead of focusing on losing weight, concentrate on being healthier. <> If you dont know what is going on around you, how can you stay competitive? explains McNerney. Your entire organization and stakeholders should be able to remember and understand your goals. EdUHK Strategic Plan 2016-2025 Council Chairman's Foreword Strategic planning is indispensable for any organisation. Values describe the behaviors you really want to advance, McNerney says. The trick is to identify stakeholder roles. You must set your strategic priorities first, and that often takes time. <> Report: Empowering Employees to Drive Innovation, The Difference Between Mission and Vision Statements, How to Write Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives, How to Write about Capacity, Operations Plans, Marketing Plans, and Financial Plans, Writing Different Types of Strategic Plans, How to Write a Strategic Plan for a Nonprofit, How to Write a Strategic Plan for a School, How to Write a Departmental Strategic Plan, How to Write a Strategic Plan for a Project, Improve Strategic Planning with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet, Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement, Focuses what your organization does today, Focuses on what you want your company to become, Should not change often since it is linked to companys foundation. Foreword. That is, what the organization wanted from employees. A roadmap to launch and grow your organization Process as important as product (perhaps more important) Aligns stakeholders around strategic priorities Communicates your goals, strategies and programs Engages, motivates, and retains external and internal audiences (e.g., board, staff, donors, etc.) It takes some time and money to do [a thorough industry analysis], but the lack of that understanding says a lot about the future of your organization. Here are some tips to help you write an effective foreword: Here are some excerpts of forewords written by influential people for lesser-known authors: This Christian nonficiton book on prayer has a foreword written by Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City, a very appropriate person to comment on the subject.