Since the country's economy switched to market relations, the strategic plan and any types of planning have been put aside and forgotten. This fact can be explained by the fact that many businessmen and managers of large companies began to trust the “invisible hand of the market” more. At the same time, the practice of doing business has forced a review of this approach and a return to leverage, including strategic planning.
First of all, it must be said that the strategic plan is a document that expresses the long-term goals and objectives of the company. It contains information about the state of the external environment and the internal structure of the enterprise. If we talk about the time period, then the document is developed for 10-15 years. Its basis is the so-called mission of the enterprise. This fundamental idea should be present in the plan, regardless of the scope and scope of its activities.
The strategic development plan of the enterprise includes three interrelated sections. In order to more clearly answer the question of what the mission of the company is, it is necessary to imagine what it will be like in these fifteen years. Currently, this information is specifically specified in the charter documents, if it is a joint-stock company or a limited liability company. Although an individual entrepreneur has the right to set himself the same tasks and chart the corresponding prospects.
In practice, many businessmen reduce the strategic plan to profit. Of course, this is the most important characteristic of the results of an enterprise for a certain period. As you know, there are times when work leads to losses. There is an opinion that profit refers to purely internal problems. And to put it as a strategic task for many years to come is not an exact solution. For example, Gazprom’s strategic mission is to create more comfortable living conditions for people.
The second point, after the main goal has been set, is to formulate long-term and short-term tasks that must be solved in the process of achieving the goal. The strategic plan should contain a general focus on the development of the production base and training. Today, many companies are engaged in the production and installation of plastic windows. Many of them are content with living on current orders. More advanced, so to speak, take a different position.
They are modernizing existing equipment. Expand production facilities. Add new items to their product line. In addition to installing windows, customers are offered installation services for suspended ceilings. And in order to expand the scope of activities, it is necessary to attract additional personnel. And not just attract, but also improve their skills. All these and many other processes should be reflected in a document called a “strategic plan”.
One point to make here. All of the above activities must be carried out in order to consolidate its presence in the market. At its core, this will be the strategic goal that the plan says. The current legislation contains rules that limit the maximum market share that one company can occupy. Therefore, it is possible to set this goal. For example, it is necessary to occupy 30% of the market in the production and installation of plastic windows. If this threshold is exceeded, antitrust mechanisms will come into effect. This should not be allowed.
Given this circumstance, the strategic plan should contain a third section - one that governs the mechanism of managerial decisions. Everyone knows that the famous entrepreneur Ford made important decisions on his own. At the same time, he relied on the opinions of the expert council that acted in his company. This aspect of activity - the decision-making mechanism - needs to be paid special attention to in strategic planning.