• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Hartman Executive Advisors

Hartman Executive Advisors

Business & IT Strategy Consulting Firm

  • Business Strategy Consulting
  • IT Management Consulting
  • IT Strategy Consulting
  • Risk Management Consulting
  • Telehealth
  • About
    • Careers
    • Community
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Business Strategy Consulting
      • CIO Consulting Services
      • CISO Consulting Services
      • Interim Executive Placement Services
      • M&A Advisory
      • Telehealth Consulting Services
      • IT Coaching & Mentoring
      • Organizational Development
      • Process Engineering
    • Risk Management Consulting
      • CMMC Compliance Services
      • Cyber Risk Assessment
      • Governance, Risk and Compliance
      • Incident Response Planning
      • IT Due Diligence
    • IT Management Consulting
      • Change Management
      • IT Portfolio Management
      • Vendor Selection & Management
    • IT Strategy Consulting
      • Core Banking System Selection
      • FinTech Consulting Services
      • IT Strategy Assessment
      • Software Evaluation
      • Software Selection
      • Virtual Event Technology
  • Industries
    • Construction
    • Education
    • Financial Services
    • Government Contracting
    • Health & Human Services
    • Manufacturing, Retail & Distribution
    • Nonprofit & Association
    • Real Estate
    • State & Local Government
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • eBooks
    • Executive Technology Survey Results
    • Maryland CIO Roundtable
    • Speaking Engagements
  • Contact Us
(410) 587-0064 Request a Consultation
(410) 587-0064 Request a Consultation

3 Steps To Successful Strategic Planning

February 29, 2016 by Rick Arthur

Strategic planning is most successful when thought of as a process for generating ideas for improvement and innovation and distilling those ideas down to funded projects. The key terms here are funded and projects. A funded project has priority, a defined scope or charter, outcomes and resources allocated to the project, and a clear owner. Each project has a well-defined beginning, middle and end to the effort.

Successful Strategic Planning In 3 Steps

1. Determining What Projects To De-Prioritize

The hard part is figuring out what projects to de-prioritize without getting crippled by analysis paralysis. This is where leadership has to make the tough priority decisions. Often, organizations tackle too many initiatives by failing to say no (or at least ‘not yet’) and wonder why they don’t make progress. Strategic planning doesn’t stop with the ideas. It stops when the ideas have been converted into funded projects and are ready to be executed.

2. Relating Strategic Planning To A Funnel

Think of strategic planning as a large funnel that receives ideas as inputs. It starts wide, and through the application of several filters, which might include priorities, feasibility, resourcing constraints or risk, what comes out are funded projects. Once the projects have made it through the funnel, they are ready to be executed. When projects have made it this far, their probability for success is greatly amplified, and the expected results from planning become a reality.

3. Incorporating IT Into Strategic Planning

Many organizations struggle with how to incorporate IT into the strategic planning process. One simple way to start is to have the IT team present as the ideas unfold. The team can estimate the potential impact on technology procurement, development and existing infrastructure, as well as the total cost of ownership for the effort.

To make sure your strategic planning is setting you up for success, remember these three key considerations.

  1. Strategic planning is a well-defined process. And it doesn’t stop with the generation of ideas, purpose or direction; it stops with the identification of funded projects.
  2. Involving IT in strategic planning is critical to success. Both business leaders and IT leaders need to be involved in selecting funded projects. When IT strategy is part of the overall business strategy, then there are no IT projects — only business improvement initiatives.
  3. Be clear about the distillation process filters. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to project ideas that don’t make it through the strategic planning process. Too often, these ideas can receive life through informal channels despite not being a company priority. These types of projects are distractions and contribute to failure of priority projects.

Speak With Professional IT Strategy Consultants Today

Bringing IT into planning discussions can strengthen an organization’s focus and support the overall business goals. Don’t wait until the last minute to involve IT, because at that point, it’s often too late. For more information about strategic planning, give us a call at 410.587.0064 or request a consultation online.

Filed Under: IT Strategy

Primary Sidebar

Types

  • Article
  • Press
  • Vlog
  • Webinar

Topics

  • COVID-19
  • Cybersecurity
  • Featured
  • Hartman News
  • Health & Human Services
  • Interim Executive Placement
  • IT Due Diligence
  • IT Management
  • IT Strategy
  • Leadership
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Risk Management Consulting
  • Strategic Services
  • Systems & Software
  • Telehealth

Related Blogs

Neobanks and Banking as a Service: The Community Bank Opportunity

April 27, 2022

The term “neo” is used to describe something that is new, modern, revived or modified.  Neobanks are FinTechs that challenge the traditional [...]
Read More

documents on office table with smart phone and digital tablet by a Outsourced CIO

More Than An IT Consultant: The Strategic Partnership Of An Outsourced CIO

February 14, 2022

It’s impossible to argue the profound effect technology has on businesses today. Unfortunately, not all organizations leverage the power of [...]
Read More

female team leader talking with mixed race group of people

5 Reasons Your Business Needs A Strategic IT Leader

January 24, 2022

For many businesses, the IT team spends their time tactically focused on maintaining technology and helping with day-to-day staff needs. In today’s [...]
Read More

Footer

It's Time to Reach Out
Are you ready for independent IT Leadership?
Contact Us

Hartman Executive Advisors

1954 Greenspring Drive Suite 320 Timonium, MD 21093
410-587-0064

Services

  • Business Strategy Consulting
  • Risk Management Consulting
  • IT Management Consulting
  • IT Strategy Consulting

Resources

  • Blog
  • Case Studies
  • eBooks
  • Executive Technology Survey Results
  • Maryland CIO Roundtable
  • Speaking Engagements
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Subscribe to Hartman Executive Insights
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2022 Hartman Executive Advisors · Powered by 321 Web Marketing · Website Privacy Policy & Terms of Use