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Essay / Strategic Planning as a Management Tool for Any Organization
Table of ContentsSummaryDiscussionOrganizational MandateInformal MandatesOrganizational Mission and ValuesExternal and Internal EnvironmentsSummaryStrategic planning is a management tool that organizations use to advance their mission and vision. This essay examines the steps taken from the formulation of planning strategies to their implementation. It also explains how a company's vision and mission are integral to future success. From the essay, we understand better what mandates are. Since formal and informal mandates are commonly conflated, this article digs deeper using examples to show their differences. Once all the steps necessary to formulate and integrate a strategic plan into an organization have been completed, it is gradually implemented within the workforce. Ultimately, for a strategic plan to be effective, it must be evaluated from time to time. Indeed, businesses, whether for-profit or not, go through changing life cycles. As such, they require a re-evaluation of these plans, as the environments in which they operate also change over time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayKeywords: strategic planning, organization mission, organization vision, business futureThe strategic change cycle is an activity carried out by an organization's management team to set achievable goals. goals and objectives for employees and other stakeholders. It is a process by which a company directs its resources towards strengthening operations and adjusting those operations according to changes in the environment. For this process to be successful, management must assess where the organization is going, how it will get there, and determine when it has succeeded. This paper will examine the steps taken during the strategic change cycle, from formulation to implementation of strategic plans. DiscussionThe strategic change cycle has ten stages in its process. Below is an overview of each step and what it involves. Strategic Planning Process Strategic planning is fundamental to the survival of any organization, whether for-profit or not. Planning ensures that all activities within the business are taken into account; therefore, strategies are formulated to move the organization forward and for the future. As such, a strategic planning process is necessary because it provides a step-by-step guide on what a business needs to move forward (Bryson, 2018). There are some key points to consider when planning for the future.Mission. Every business needs a mission statement to start any planning. A mission statement explains the backbone of the business. According to Gruber (2016), it gives meaning to what the company is and how it came to be. Without this, stakeholders have no anchor in the company. Mission statements are short, to the point and easy to understand and ensure that each person who encounters the company does not confuse it with another. It is the identity of any organization.Vision. They say “a man without vision is dead”. The same goes for any business. An organization's vision tells customers and employees where the company is going. You can't go where you don't know without direction. As such, a company's vision is its compass and guides all of its efforts.stakeholders (Gruber, 2016). All plans and strategies are therefore aimed at achieving this future goal. Interestingly, top-level employees are not the only ones concerned with achieving an organization's mission and vision. It is important for them to ensure that all stakeholders understand the company's core mission and where it is going. In doing so, they ensure that everyone is on the right track to move the company forward and ensure its continued success. Organizational Mandates Before a business can operate in a legal capacity, certain critical mandates must be fulfilled. Some are formal while others are informal, and these extend across organizations. Many people tend to assume that all mandates of an organization are legal matters that require the attention of the legal department. Although many, if not most, corporate mandates tend to be legal, some are informal in nature but just as critical (Gruber, 2016). As such, below is a brief explanation of the organizations' informal and formal mandates. Formal mandates. These are state-required mandates and may vary depending on the size of the business and its operations. Both for-profit and non-profit organizations are required to apply for a business business license. They must also register the business name, obtain tax identification numbers, register for taxes, and acquire local and state permits. Corporate legal departments are also responsible for incorporation documents, bylaws, among other legal documents. Once the business becomes a licensed business, further legal documentation is required to cover employees and other stakeholders. According to the company, some of these mandates include family and medical leave policies, workers' compensation insurance, as well as Social Security payments. Informal MandatesThere are certain laws that an organization must follow that do not require the attention of an attorney. These may include the proper disposal of chemical waste as in manufacturing companies or the disposal of sensitive documents within the company. These are delegated to supervisors and therefore must be included in all strategic plans of the organization. They are an essential part of planning because they require funding, which must be considered in the planning process (Uphill, 2016). Other informal mandates take the form of bonuses or “perks,” traditions, gifts, or even perks. Most people do not differentiate between the two mandates, leading to a lot of confusion and disagreement. After reading and understanding each mandate, it is worth noting that they both involve different approaches within the company. Organizational Mission and Values As we saw earlier, an organization that does not have a mission or vision is doomed to failure. The two elements always go hand in hand because they complement each other. For a business to begin planning for the future, it must think about where it has come from and what to do in the present moment (Booth, 2017), then formulate plans to achieve that future (vision). Likewise, the company's vision is realized or steps are taken to achieve it by looking at the core (mission) of the organization. When both elements are communicated effectively to stakeholders, they act as the engine of the vehicle, which is the organization in this case. Since they go hand in hand, we will look at a company's vision and mission together. To understand them, you must answer the “W” and “H” questions: who,..