Management by Objectives (MBO)

This method aims to identify and closely align organizational goals and subordinate objectives throughout the organization. Ideally, employees get strong input to identify their own goals and objectives. It includes extensive, ongoing tracking and feedback in the processes to reach objectives. Similar to continuous improvement, many organizations already implement some version of MBO, but probably not to the extent that experts in MBO would recognize as MBO in the organizations.
All About Strategic Planning

Simply put, strategic planning determines where an organization is going over the next year or more, how it's going to get there and how it'll know if it got there or not. The focus of a strategic plan is usually on the entire organization, while the focus of a business plan is usually on a particular product, service or program. There are a variety of perspectives, models and approaches used in strategic planning. The way that a strategic plan is developed depends on the nature of the organization's leadership, culture of the organization, complexity of the organization's environment, size of the organization and expertise of planners. If you need more help,
see our strategic planning services.

    Want to learn how to facilitate strategic planning?  ConsultantsDevelopmentInstitute.org
    Most of the information in this topic was adapted from the book Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. Most of the information in that book applies to for-profits, as well.

Sections of This Topic Include
Understanding Strategic Planning

Introduction -- What is Strategic Planning?
- - - Some Basic Descriptions of Strategic Planning -- and a Comparison to Business Planning
- - - Some Different Models of Strategic Planning
- - - For-Profit Versus Nonprofit Strategic Planning
Benefits of Strategic Planning
When Should Strategic Planning Be Done?
Various Overviews of Strategic Planning Process
- - - Samples of Plans
Boards and Strategic Planning
Conducting Strategic Planning

Preparation for Strategic Planning
- - - Guidelines to Keep Perspective During Planning
- - - Useful Skills to Have When Planning
- - - Need Consultant or Facilitator to Help You With Planning?
- - - Who Should Be Involved in Planning?
- - - How Many Planning Meetings Will We Need?
Always First Do "Plan for a Plan"
Strategic Analyses
- - - Taking Wide Look Around the Outside of Organization (Opportunities and Threats)
- - - Looking Around Inside the Organization (Strengths and Weaknesses)
Setting Strategic Direction
- - - Strategizing (identifying goals and methods to achieve them)
- - - - - - Understanding Strategy and Strategic Thinking
- - - - - - Do a SWOT Analysis of Results of Looking Outside and Inside the Organization?
- - - - - - Other Guidelines to Identify Strategic Goals and Methods/Strategies to Achieve Goals
- - - - - - - - - Consider Your Business Model (For-Profit and Nonprofit)
- - - - - - - - - Evaluate Your Strategies
- - - Developing/Updating Mission Statement (the purpose of the organization)
- - - Developing/Updating Vision Statement (depiction of future state of organization and customers)
- - - Developing/Updating Values Statement (overall priorities in how organization operates)
Action Planning (Objectives, Responsibilities and Deadlines)
Writing and Communicating the Plan
Implementing, Monitoring, Evaluating and Deviating from the Plan -- and Managing Change
- - - How Do We Ensure Implementation of Our New Plan?
- - - Monitoring Implementation, Evaluating Implementation -- and Deviating from Plan, If Necessary
- - - Changing the Plan as Necessary During Implementation
- - - Guidelines to Manage Organizational Change While Implementing the Plan