Discussion: View Thread

In my night class for bankers, I mentioned the use of a strategic plan.
The reaction from the class members was less than enthusiastic--one was
downright hostile to this term.

So, my question is "Is the strategic plan a set of future goals or a
framework for making future decisions?"

______________________
Great Optimism,

Dutch Driver
Dept. of Communication
McMurry University
Abilene, TX
ddriver@cs1.mcm.edu

Sounds like these bankers practice a form of economic determinism, in which
decisions flow from the balance sheet and income statement, not a set of
reasoned, forward-looking strategic priorities. I find that when people
adopt this perspective, they tend to see the world as divided into two
groups: those who can add, and those who cannot.

*Values* are a "framework for making future decisions," not a strategic
plan. If you can get bankers to focus on values, perhaps a new appreciation
of the importance of strategy will emerge.


Regards,

R. Dante Vilardi
Managing Editor, Innovation Line

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At Thu, 27 Mar 1997 07:12:35, Dutch Driver <ddriver@CS1.MCM.EDU> wrote:
>Subject: The Strategic Plan
>
>In my night class for bankers, I mentioned the use of a strategic plan.
>The reaction from the class members was less than enthusiastic--one was
>downright hostile to this term.
>
>So, my question is "Is the strategic plan a set of future goals or a
>framework for making future decisions?"

Suggest you see March HBR article on the resurgence of strategic planning
and the distinctions between SP and past examples.

"Jack Ring"
jring@amug.org