Implementation of strategic plans represents the execution of planning and analysis that has happened at a governance level. Often, strategic plans have been developed after boards and leadership teams have collected feedback and input from multiple stakeholders. Implementation gives a strategic plan life and essentially puts the planning into action.
When Strategic Becomes Operational
Whereas strategic planning represents the behind-the-scenes work of setting objectives, targets and examining organizational analysis, the execution of the plan is when this work becomes visible and is brought to the surface of the operations.
Intangible Assets
Often the intangible assets of an organization are stored in the memories of staff or on a company database. A carefully structured strategic plan will identify these intangible assets and will create a plan for documenting these resources. Once documented these assets can be put into action.
Operational Plans
The execution of a strategic plan requires drafting an operational plan. An operational plan will take pieces of the strategic plan and outline how various parts will be executed. Typically operational plans identify a goal and will list the dates, times, who’s responsible, and the targets that need to be reached in order to achieve various elements of the strategic plan.
Elaine Allan, BA, MBA
Technology & Business Blogger
Vancouver, BC, Canada