While strategic plans should help organizations to be successful, it doesn't always work out that way. This presentation summarizes the barriers, which is the first step in moving to more effective approaches to strategic planning.

1. 7 Barriers to Effective
Strategic Plans
Debbie Narver, BSc MBA MScIB
Strategic Management Instructor at NMC Strategic Manager

2. Why Do Strategic Plans Fail?
When done effectively, a strategic plan provides
focus and direction for your organization to reach
goals and achieve your vision.
But… many have had less than satisfactory
experiences with Strategic Planning.

3. By recognizing the following 7 pitfalls, we can begin to
learn more effective approaches to strategic planning.

4. 1. No clear purpose
Without a clear
understanding
of our desired
outcomes for
strategic
planning, there
is no focus.

5. 2. Not Linked to vision & goals
It doesn’t matter how
brilliant your strategic
plan is if it doesn’t
align with the vision,
goals and values of
your organization.

6. 3. Lack of Research
The process, and
ultimately the strategic
plan, ends up being
based on opinions
rather than real and
objective information.

7. 4. Lack of Structure
Without some up front
planning and a
systematic approach
for developing your
strategy, things can
quickly get off track.

8. 5. No linkage to Implementation
Who is going to do
what? If we don’t
know, it’s likely that
the strategic plan will
sit on the shelf.

9. 6. Not Aligned with Reality
Once again, it doesn’t
matter how brilliant
your strategy is if you
lack the resources,
knowledge and skills to
implement.

10. 7. No Measures or Evaluation
How will you stay on
track? How will you
know if you are
successful?
Chances are, if you
don’t review regularly,
you won’t achieve
results.

11. What’s the solution?
Our course
Effective Strategic
Plans addresses
each of these
pitfalls and outlines
techniques for
success.

12. Learn more about Strategic Management
Training and Consulting
www.nmcstrategicmanager.com