Strategic planning for dummies

• Main Author: Olsen, Erica (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ. Wiley 2007; ©2007
• Series: -- for dummies
• Subjects: Business planning; Strategic planning
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Item Description: Includes index
• Physical Description: xviii, 360 pages illustrations 24 cm
• ISBN: 0470037164

If youre starting a new business or planning your businesss future, there are plenty of things you should take into account. Strategic Planning For Dummies covers everything you need to know to develop a plan for building and maintaining a competitive advantage  no matter what business youre in. Written by Erica Olsen, founder and President of a business development firm that helps entrepreneurial-minded businesses plan for a successful future, this handy guide covers all the basics, including: How a strategic plan is different than a business plan Establishing a step-based planning process Planning for and encouraging growth Taking a long-view of your organization Evaluating past performance Defining and refining your mission, values, and vision Sizing up your current situation Examining your industry landscape Setting your strategic priorities Planning for unknown contingencies If youre in business, you have to plan for everything  especially if you intend your business to grow. Whether youre planning for a small business, large conglomerate, nonprofit, or even a government agency, this book has the planning specifics you need for your organization. Step-by-step, youll learn how to lay the foundations for a plan, understand how your plan will affect your business, form planning teams, discover what your strengths are, see where you are, and, finally, plan where youre going. And theres much more: Learn to analyze business trends that will determine your businesss future Set measurable, realistic goals that you can plan for and achieve Make strategic planning a habitual part of the organization Prioritize multiple strategies that you can implement simultaneously Set a defining vision for the organization that guides all your planning and strategy This friendly, simple guide puts the power of strategic planning in the palm of your hand. For small businesses that cant afford to hire strategic planning consultants, its even more imperative. Careful, constant planning is the only way to handle an uncertain business future. With this book, youll have all the step-by-step guidance you need to ensure youre ready for anything that comes.