Strategic Planning in the Small Business

Unit

3

Content

Process

"   Owners

and employees

Have some

conception of

what success looks

like

wit success therefore

made more likely.

"   If there is Agreement

on the

vision,

and

if clear decision

rules can be

derived

from it, the

business can gain

an added

increment

of power and effi­

ciency.

"   If we

believe that the

future is what we

make it, then

a vision outlines

the

future we

want to have and

forces us

to live

it, create it, and

realize it in the

present.

"

It creates a useful

tension between

the

world as it is, and

the world as

we

would like

it.

"   An inspiring vision

of success can

sup­

ply another

source of motivation:

a

calling.

If a vision

of success becomes

a calling, an

enormous amount

of indi­

vidual energy

and dedication

can be

released in pursuit

of a forceful

vision.

*

Helps everyone

recognize the barriers

to realization of

the vision and thereby

assists in

overcoming them.

The following
guidelines are
intended to

help a strategic
planning team
formulate

a vision statement.

"   Should not

be prepared until

the firm

has

been through at

least one cycle

of

strategic

planning.

" Should
include the following:
mission,

basic

philosophy and

core values, long­

term

goals, basic strategies,

perfor­

mance criteria,

important decision

rules,

and ethical standards

expected

of all employees.

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