Strategies are the broadly defined four or five key approaches the organization will use to accomplish its mission and drive toward the vision. Goals and action plans usually flow from each strategy. One example of a strategy is employee empowerment and teams. Another is to pursue a new worldwide market in Asia. Another is to streamline your current distribution system using lean management principles.
A university Human Resources Development department established several broad strategies for growth. These included becoming the training and education resource of choice for all employees by offering one-stop access to any and all existing education and training resources. Additionally, they determined key strategies for expanding their funding base and moving courses online for customer convenience.
A Human Resources department devised strategies to develop a superior workforce. These included eliminating poor performers; hiring from several choices of excellent candidates, not just "settling" on a candidate; developing succession planning; and increasing training and cross-training opportunities.
Sample Strategies
"The Human Resource Association of Greater Detroit's (HRAGD) efforts to advance its mission will include: The promotion of voluntary member interchange, observance of ethical and professional standards, the conduct of meetings and workshops on relevant human resources topics and issues, communication of our purpose and activities to the broader business community, cooperation with the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), as well as, other SHRM professional and student chapters and related Human Resources organizations and the community involvement of our membership. The Association regularly publishes newsletters throughout the year which cover items such as monthly meeting highlights, future programs, Executive Board announcements, SHRM and legislative updates and general human resources news. In addition, a Membership Directory and member skills listing are published."
The San Antonio Express News developed these strategies.
- "EXPAND our customer base and enhance the franchise by pursuing multimedia opportunities.
- DELIVER an award-winning level of journalistic excellence, building public interest, trust and pride.
- PROVIDE vigorous community leadership and support.
- INSTILL an environment of internal and external excellence in customer service.
- EMPOWER and recognize each employee's unique contribution.
- ACHIEVE the highest standards of quality.
- IMPROVE financial strength and profitability."
Goals and Action Plans
After you have developed the key strategies, turn your attention to developing several goals that will enable you to accomplish each of your strategies. Goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based.
In the example above, the HRAGD group might consider setting one goal to hold a monthly chapter meeting. Another goal that supports their strategies is to schedule a relevant seminar quarterly. Another goal might include holding informal dinners and cocktail hours to support voluntary member exchange.
Once you have enabled strategy accomplishment through setting SMART goals, you will want to develop action plans to accomplish each goal. Continuing with HRAGD as the example, to offer a quarterly seminar, you will need to follow an action plan:
- Establish a cross section of professionals as a committee and meet to plan the sessions.
- Determine budget.
- Perform HRAGD member needs assessment.
- Select topics based on member needs assessment.
- Locate exceptional speakers.
- Pick speaker and negotiate workshop length, pay, topic and objectives.
- Determine location and schedule the seminar.
- Plan advertising strategies, and so forth.
Make action plans as detailed as you need them to be and integrate the individual steps into your planning system. An effective planning system, whether it uses a personal computer, a paper and pen system, a handheld computer or a Palm, will keep your goals and action plans on track and on target.
All of the Strategic Planning Resources on this site.
Want to be one of the organizations, whose employees understand the mission and goals, that enjoy a 29 percent greater return than other firms? Involve as many people as you can in charting the road map I've shared with you for developing a strategic framework for your business. And you will enjoy the greater return. With your vision, mission, values, strategies, goals and action plans developed and shared, you'll all win, both personally and professionally.
More of this article?
- Part 1: Strategy and Vision Statements
- Part 2: Mission Statements
- Part 3: Values and Value Statements
- Part 4: Value Statement Samples
- Part 5: Strategies, Goals and Action Plans (You are here.)
