Frequently I tell people (including the grad students I teach) that strategy can be done well in many different ways. Certainly, I prefer the Mission Impact approach, but there are a lot of great methodologies out there that can work for organizations. One interesting approach is S.O.A.R., which you can read more about it at this link. S.O.A.R. stands for Strengths, … [Read more...] about SOAR without SWOTs
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SWOT Your Goals!
SWOT Analysis (evaluating your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is the most widely used tool in strategic planning. But that is not the only time you can use it! It is also very helpful to SWOT any goal – individual or organizational – that you have. But make sure you put the SWOT in context. Ask these questions: *Given my/our commitment to … [Read more...] about SWOT Your Goals!
More Effective SWOTing
Conducting SWOT analysis (identifying an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is one of the most commonly used activities in strategic planning. It is also an activity most often done poorly. Here are three ideas to improve your SWOTing: 1. Be Systematic. Don’t just ask people on your strategic planning committee what they think your SWOTs … [Read more...] about More Effective SWOTing
A Cool Tool Gets Cooler
A couple of years ago I blogged about the Organization Capacity Assessment Tool (OCAT) that McKinsey & Co developed in partnership with Venture Philanthropy Partners (“A Cool Tool”). Well, now the 2.0 version is out and it is even cooler. The OCAT allows an organization to perform a thorough self-analysis of its operations and performance. It asks questions in seven … [Read more...] about A Cool Tool Gets Cooler
What is Strategy? Part IV
Strategy is an integrated explanation of how an organization is going to guide its performance into the future. In Part IV of “What is Strategy?” we put everything together. You have chosen your future with your Vision & Strategic Goals, and you have discerned your SWOTs. Your Strategy answers the question “How do we get from there (your Current Reality) to here (your … [Read more...] about What is Strategy? Part IV