Leadership
& Strategy
The Plan—A Poem
In the beginning was the plan.
And then came the assumptions.
And the assumptions were without form.
And the plan was completely without substance,
And the darkness was upon the face of the workers.
And they spake unto their marketing manager, saying “It is a pot of crap, and it stinketh.”
And the marketing manager went unto the strategists and sayeth, “It is a pile of dung, and none may
abide the odour therof.”
And the strategists went unto the business managers and sayeth unto them, “It is a container of
excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it.”
And the business managers went unto the director and sayeth unto him, “It is a vessel of fertiliser,
and none may abide its strength.”
And the vice president went unto the senior vice president and sayeth, “it promoteth growth, and it
is powerful.”
And the senior vice president went unto the president and sayeth unto him, “This powerful new plan
will actively promote the growth and efficiency of the company and the business in general.”
And the president looked upon the plan and saw that it was good, AND THE PLAN BECAME POLICY.
Anon
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Board Orientation Series
And the director went to unto the vice president and sayeth, “It contains that which aids plant
growth and it is very strong.”
Leadership
& Strategy
What is strategy?
Strategy may be defined as a plan of action or policy that is designed to achieve a major overall aim.
In a business sense this usually means planning to ensure the organisation achieves its short and
long term goals.
Board Orientation Series
Put simply, an organisation undertakes strategic planning to reaffirm or to modify its mission—why
it exists, what its purpose is, and what it now does—and to agree on its vision—what it wants to be
and do in the coming years. Strategic planning need not be more, but must not be less. (Fisher
Howe, 1997)
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Leadership
& Strategy
Benefits of a strategic Board
There are a range of benefits to an NFP organisation of being a strategic board, these include
Increased effectiveness
The organisation’s performance is enhanced, its mission furthered, and
its mandates are met. Additionally, the organisation responds
effectively to rapidly changing circumstances.
Increased efficiency
The same or better results are achieved with fewer resources.
Improved understanding
and better learning
Better decision-making
The organisation understands its situation far more clearly. It is able to
reconceptualise, if necessary, and to establish an interpretive
framework that can guide strategy development and implementation.
A coherent, focused, and defensible basis for decision-making is
established, and today’s decisions are made in light of their future
consequences.
Broadly based organisational leadership is improved and the capacity
for further strategic thought and action is enhanced.
Improved communications
and public relations
Mission, vision, goals strategies and action programmes are
communicated more effectively to key stakeholders. A desirable image
for the organisation is established and managed.
Increased political support
The organistion’s legitimacy is enhanced, its advocacy base broadened,
and a powerful and supportive coalition developed.
Board Orientation Series
Enhanced organisational
capabilities
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Leadership
& Strategy
Benefits of a strategic Board
Even when organisations accept in a general way the need for strategic planning, they often
misunderstand just what such planning means and how to carry it out effectively. The following
diagram provides one way at looking at strategic planning.
Who are we?
What are we?
What do we do now?
Why?
What do we want to be
and do in the future?
Why?
How do we get there?
Board Orientation Series
Interactive Strategic Planning
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