how to write a foreword for a strategic plan how to write a foreword for a strategic plan

Objectives: Objectives support goals, and theyre usually quantitative and measurable. Try Smartsheet for free, today. A strategy plan, more commonly known as a strategic plan, is a list of strategic goals together with an action plan to achieve each goal. However, if you think it might, this video is designed . endobj It went further to co-create with farmers its positions on product range, customer service, and price to drive revenue and profitability. In addition to the basic sections that go into any strategic plan, when forecasting five years into the future, put one- and three-year checkpoints into the plan so you can track progress intermittently. but it can prove beneficial for the author of the foreword as well as the author of the book. In the context of changing global trends and increasing competition in higher education, we considered it a priority to further strengthen our academic development and research as well as student development. Do not abandon this at the first sight of the unexpected. Improve efficiency and patient experiences. Your plan has to be aligned with your culture and your culture needs to be aligned with your plan if youre going to be successful in implementing it.. Expect to make changes. You need to find the balance between the process and the final product. Integrity 5. :), Awesome! Before you even start writing the book, it is important that you ask the . There are three areas to look at when setting priorities in your plan: Current situation: Think about which aspects of your business are doing great, and which aspects need improvement. Theyre so used to thinking operationally rather than strategically that putting self first seems like heresy. Get expert coaching, deep technical support and guidance. These aspects of the plan outline a strategy for achieving success and can include the following: Vision statement about what the company will look like in the future, What is happening (both internally and externally) and what needs to change. Wrap up with a conclusion about the importance of the work. These are the key decision-making criteria that stakeholders use when interacting with your business. Next, you have to determine how to get there, via a few different objectives that support each goal. A summary of it should go into your strategic plan. KPIs can be both financial and nonfinancial measures that help you chart your progress and take corrective measures if actions are not unfolding as they should. But there is a fine line between being ambitious and creating a fantasy. Many companies values sound like meaningless jargon, so take the time to figure out what matters to your company and push beyond generic language. Be prepared to adjust. Take the example of a dairy cooperative I worked with recently. What are your competitors doing? Goals should be precise and concise statements, not long narratives. In addition to guiding your entire company, it also helps your employees make decisions that move them toward the companys overall mission and goals. Objectives are the turn-by-turn directions of how to achieve your goals. Next, identify your target customers. Readiness assessment. Some writers do this first before describing the book. Let me take this opportunity to thank all of them for giving us so much food for thought during the process of consultation and drafting of the Strategic Plan. The strategic planning process takes time, but the payoff is huge. devoid of strategy, and often not even a plan. Company core values, sometimes called organizational values, help you understand what drives the company to do what it does. Pinpointing values will help you figure out the traits of the people you want to hire and promote, as well as the qualities youre looking for in your customers. :), Your email address will not be published. It doesn't hurt to immediately dive into a story to draw the reader in and explain why they should care about this book. Strategic plannning software designed for leaders of mid-sized organizations to align, design, execute, and report on their strategic plan. You will know when you achieve an objective. If done correctly, your strategic plan will engage and align stakeholders around your companys priorities. The foreword is an explanation of how important your book is, or why the person writing the foreword believes you are the right person to create such a book, or what about the book especially moved or influenced the person writing the foreword. One of the first steps is committing to a process, then determining how youre going to do it, McNerney explains. youre very welcome, were glad you found the post helpful :). Flattery has no room in the foreword. Over the years, Lingnan University's outstanding teaching, learning, scholarship and community engagement have demonstrated the values of its liberal arts education in Hong Kong's higher education sector. Your entire organization and stakeholders should be able to remember and understand your goals. This template can help your university or school outline your strategic plan. Mission statements dont have to be only outward-facing for customers or partners. Decide who should get a physical copy of the entire plan. Whether you're gearing up to lead your own strategy session, or plan on attending and . All Rights Reserved Smartsheet Inc. Business architecture is important, which Stockmal says is building the capabilities the organization needs to fulfill its strategy. He adds that nothing happens if there is no budget workers to do the work necessary to drive change. [If you dont do a thorough industry analysis], youre doing your planning with your head in the sand. It provides some sort of insight about both the author and the book itself, either through the writer's personal or professional relationship with the author; or, through the writer's connection to the topic or field. I wouldnt attempt to put a definition to the terms. The plan may be in the form of a document, a presentation, or another format. Your help is highly appreciated, its super cool. Do not take shortcuts in the research phase that will lead to bad information coming out further in the process. The HR team and senior management would bend over backwards to identify what would satisfy staff. Your email address will not be published. your key stakeholders. As we stride forward into our golden jubilee, it is an opportune time for us to consolidate our strengths and identify opportunities for further development, so as to steer the University to the next level of excellence. Sign your name at the endbecause the foreword of a book is essentially a letter of endorsement written to the reader! You can use these foreword samples as a guide to writing your foreword for your own papers or books. Instead, be honest about the strengths that you see in the author. ls the goal quantifiable, and can you measure it over time? ElA)Z{%e,M |+a12%7(sF_bnXg_ You can also create a strategic plan to help guide both your professional and personal life. In the context of changing global trends and increasing competition in higher education, we considered it a priority to further strengthen our academic development and research as well as student development. Your strategic plan will identify what resources you need for your project and how you will get them. Collaborative Work Management Tools, Q4 2022, Strategic Portfolio Management Tools, Q4 2020. endobj While five years is often the strategic planning sweet spot, some organizations choose to create three-year plans. Once youve assembled your team and defined your terms, its time to formalize your ideas by writing the strategic plan. stream :) Were you unable to view the foreword excerpts for The Courage Map and Bridal Intercession? addresses the foundation of your organization, and it can serve as an outline for the following sections of your strategic plan: Identification of competing organizations, Industry analysis (this can include a SWOT or PEST analysis). Before beginning the strategic planning process, its important to make sure you have buy-in from management, a board of directors, or other leaders. A Gantt chart can help you map out and keep track of these initiatives. In some cases, yearly planning might keep you continually stuck in the planning process, while 10 years might be too far out. This is also where you can remind your readers what they can get out of the book. This planning assures a deep consideration of the audience, the most effective structure, and persuasive content. They are set in statement and purpose with no ambiguity about whether you achieve them or not. Team leaders need to take care of these troubles before they get out of hand. Part of this initiative includes leveraging our wealth of experience in liberal arts education and our research excellence to collaborate with eminent universities, offer more distinct degree programmes, provide research opportunities for outstanding students across the world, and elevate our reputation in the international arena. Second, identify a specific, very important key stakeholder: your target customer. endobj Dont feel pressured to put anything and everything into this section executive summaries should only be about one to two pages long and include the main points of the strategic plan. Schools often have set boundaries, missions, and budgets. With clarity, your organization knows exactly . I could not know the areas to concentrate on. Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor. It was seat-of-the-pants stuff. Once it adopted the six-step method, these outcomes were identified as reducing employee turnover and increasing productivity and innovation. Metrics were developed to monitor these, and targets were set before moving on. Once you've identified a path forward, you'll need a framework in place to help carry it out. <> Your goals should strike a balance between being aspirational and tangible. A foreword is a short introductory portion of a non-fiction book, typically written by someone other than the author. Be prepared for what you discover about yourself. Access eLearning, Instructor-led training, and certification. An excerpt is shown below to show you how Mike describes his relationship with Gary: It has been my pleasure to know Gary Wiens since 1985 in a friendship that has gone from mere acquaintance to partnership in ministry. Then there are finances. I like the idea that the real plan is not the output format, but what's supposed to happen, and why, and when, and how much money. Manage campaigns, resources, and creative at scale. Move faster with templates, integrations, and more. Also called an elevator pitch, the company description is a brief outline of your organization and what it does. What do you value most in your life? Now I can see the way forward. Department of Tourism 1 STRATEGIC PLAN 2015/16 - 2019/2020 (2016/17 REVIEW) TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Foreword by the Minister of Tourism Message by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Introduction and Strategic Overview by the Director-General Official sign-off PART A: STRATEGIC OVERVIEW 1. Offer a 15-minute call to ask them some questions, interview style. In this article, youll learn the basics of writing a strategic plan, what to include, common challenges, and more. stream Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team and adapt as those needs change. Ill let you in on the six-step technique I have developed over many years, working with clients and in teaching my public seminars on strategic planning. If employees cannot accurately articulate what you do to others, you might miss out on opportunities. They look ok on my end but let me know if youre having trouble viewing them. Your email address will not be published. Include a section in your strategic plan where you talk about the capacity of your organization. Unusually, for these documents, it's a creatively presented and well branded document, and it includes a foreword from the HR Director, (including a picture), giving it a more personal touch. For example, a substance abuse prevention coalition is trying to keep teens from starting to drink or use drugs, and proving the coalitions methods work is often difficult to quantify. Step 1: Write a letter to the reader. One of the purposes of the foreword is to build the author up for the readers. The goals can be broad, but dont forget to include action items and timeframes to help you reach your goals. Whether you are a nonprofit, a school, or a for-profit entity, strategic plans will look at where you are and how you will get to where you want to go. I was buried in the enterprise.. Some funding sources have finite beginnings and endings. This form of planning includes: a) Taking a wide look around at what's going on outside the organization and how it might affect the organization (an environmental scan), and identifying opportunities and threats b) Taking a hard look at what's going on inside the organization, including its strengths and weaknesses (perhaps doing a SWOT analysis) Strategic planning, also called strategy development or analysis and assessment, requires attention to detail and should be performed by someone who can follow through on next steps and regular updates. And while this may sound obvious, do not ignore what your planning process tells you. That work falls on the shoulders of the suburban accountant. Section 10: Marketing Plan. But many businesses go through a time-consuming and costly strategic planning exercise, only to find themselves with a plan that is ignored or just glanced at once a year. Step one is to recognize your dependencies, i.e. Recognize what's holding you back from reaching your objectives. This helps transform your goals and objectives into a reality. The plan to publish "Our Journey Together" came together quickly, after Ms. Craighead had already selected a book agent and negotiated a contract to publish her own book and secured a . This could include management, the board of directors, owners, and more. Go deeper than saying family, happiness, and health. 1. Thank you for a useful and succinct guide to writing a foreword, I have been struggling with a request for some time. Glad you liked Yens article, Bijaya :). If not, you may need to hire personnel. 18 0 obj This is shaped by the objectives youve set for your organization and the knowledge youve gleaned about your stakeholders current and future needs on strategic factors. I was asked to write a foreword for the Design and Construction Manual authored by the Development Committee of our HOA, and this was an excellent resource. endobj It takes some time and money to do [a thorough industry analysis], but the lack of that understanding says a lot about the future of your organization. Since September 11, 2001, the United States has established a strong and sophisticated counterterrorism enterprise to reduce the threat of large-scale terrorist attacks on the homeland. 3 Strategic Plan 2015 - 2020 Foreword . Growth 4. Required fields are marked *. One tip: Try to avoid jargon and generic terms; for example, words like maximize and succeed lose their punch. Another way to look at it: Verb (action) + adjective (description) = noun (result). Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated from the retailer if you purchase a book or product recommended on this website. You can use posters or other visual methods to post around the office. Creating a strategic plan isnt only for businesses. Some planning specialists use the term strategic objectives or strategic priorities when referring to goals, but for clarity, this article will use the term goals. Mission statements are about the present, and vision statements are about the future. Estimated Duration. I am delighted to present to you the CUHK Strategic Plan 20162020, which outlines the strategic visions and goals we have identified to help the University realize its full potential and better fulfil its mission to serve the society as Hong Kong citizens as well as the wider community as global citizens. the senior executives ofan airline might travel at the back of the plane to get a feel for what economy passengers experience. A nonprofit has to make the community care about its cause. You should be able to defend your plan and reinforce its key areas. But, these 26 questions should help you to take a critical look at what you have written, and help you fine-tune your foreword. Acknowledgement vs Acceptance - Lessons From History and the Bible. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. In the tertiary education sector, it is especially important to develop a proactive approach in light of changing expectations of society, evolving professional demands, and increasing competition in the local and regional contexts. The strategic planning process will differ based on your organization, but the basic concepts will stay the same. The following sections walk you through how to write common sections of a strategic plan. Thanks for reading! 13 0 obj [ 15 0 R] the thesis serves as a bridge between student and working life. Goals form the basis of your strategic plan. <> Thus, they can concentrate on the process and ask difficult questions. Strategic planning in a school is different from others because there are no markets to explore, products to produce, clients to woo, or adjustable timelines. These outside helpers are sometimes more effective than internal facilitators since they are not emotionally invested in the outcome of the process. Most books do not need a foreword. Instead, strategic planning experts use many names for the different sections of a strategic plan. A foreword is a brief introductory piece in a book that is usually written by someone other than then author (but can be written by the author himself). Without it, the process cannot succeed. Strategic planning is a prompt or a facilitator for fostering strategic thinking, acting, and learning, says Bryson. xMo@s\d!Nm,P@l@lEv/"a1rzG)eSSPB;G:s1_L5Bm. I am in the process of working to get my fathers autobiograpy published and the book designer I have been working with suggested I write a foreward to explain myself; First, why I am publishing his book and second who I am. A strategic plan is for the big picture, not for a particular project for an organization. These available templates can be used to get more sales and attract potential investors. Sometimes, its a good idea to hire an external party to help facilitate the strategic planning process. Some of these effects include: A strategic plan can inspire & unite the whole school community One of the first steps is committing to a process, then determining how you're going to do it," McNerney explains. <> You hear the terms goals and objectives a lot, but they mean different things to different people. The following checklist will help you keep track of what you have done and what you still need to do. Report: Empowering Employees to Drive Innovation, The Difference Between Mission and Vision Statements, How to Write Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives, How to Write about Capacity, Operations Plans, Marketing Plans, and Financial Plans, Writing Different Types of Strategic Plans, How to Write a Strategic Plan for a Nonprofit, How to Write a Strategic Plan for a School, How to Write a Departmental Strategic Plan, How to Write a Strategic Plan for a Project, Improve Strategic Planning with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet, Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement, Focuses what your organization does today, Focuses on what you want your company to become, Should not change often since it is linked to companys foundation. Tip 1: Establish Authority A good start is to focus on establishing not only the author's credibility but also your own. endobj Your team should be able to easily understand and repeat the companys vision statement. How to Introduce Your Book to the World, Parts of a Book: The Basic Anatomy of Book Design, How to Write the First Chapter of a Book: A Checklist for Novelists, How to End Your Book: 5 Steps to Writing a Fantastic Final Chapter. A good estimate is about one to two pages, or about 750 to 1,500 words. Share your credentials, establishing why you have the authority to comment on the subject. Question: Is it necessary for the person writing your foreword to sate the city and state where they live? Your simple outline and examples got me through the block. A financial plan can help you set your priorities. So, take your time here to clearly define your target customer. endobj And, the best way to do so is through the process of planning. Write a friendly letter to the book's ideal reader. As a research-led university we shall continue to engage in cutting-edge research, especially in those interdisciplinary areas identified as our strengths, not only to make an intellectual impact internationally but also to benefit humankind in addressing challenges and societal needs locally, regionally and globally. They are often near the top of your plans hierarchy. Work smarter and more efficiently by sharing information across platforms. stream What some people call an objective, others would call a KPI. They key, she explains, is to decide what the terms mean in your organization, explain the definitions to key stakeholders, and stick to those definitions. <> Post the plan on the employee intranet, along with key highlights and a way to track progress. Did you find this post helpful? Writing a strategic plan for a school can be difficult because of the variety of stakeholders involved, including students, teachers, other staff, and parents. As with any team activity, there will be challenges. You will learn how the foreword helps establish credibility for the author and the book. Others share an anecdote, which may help endear the readers to the author. Smartsheet Contributor 2. 14 0 obj Build easy-to-navigate business apps in minutes. The completion of the new government office blocks . How do we link our purposes to our capabilities? Think of it as your roadmap. How to develop a winning strategyand put it to work. The foreword, which is usually written by an industry expert or influential figure for someone elses book, can help establish the authors credibility. 3. For more information about writing marketing plans, this article can help. Write in the present tense, avoid jargon, and be clear and concise. \u|;co|=c6~pLN$HG$peQ?oDAV-z|N;D%K"=YH?qw:R;gEiyWG'sXTSG{H =X>h)=I&u* 9l Third, figure out what these stakeholders want from you. But they placed little attention on, and certainly failed to measure, the return volley. Values describe the behaviors you really want to advance, McNerney says. The strategic themes attest to our commitment to achieve excellence through our core functions of creation, dissemination and exchange of knowledge, as well as our duty to engage stakeholders and the community. Download University Strategic Plan Outline Word. So, while selecting a writer for a foreword, an author seeks to choose the best person to introduce them and their work. Hi Cassandra, Im glad youve found our site helpful! <> No matter what, do not dwell on setbacks and remember to celebrate successes. When it comes to writing a strategic plan, values represent how you'll behave as an organization as you work towards your vision. Happy writing :). These indicators will show you what success looks like and ensure accountability. Introduce yourself. The mission statement explains what your business is trying to achieve. You'll want to start your foreword by introducing yourself, the book, and the author. Breaking down the process further, some strategic planners use the terms strategies and tactics to label ways to achieve objectives. Thank you Olaoluwa, were glad you found the post helpful! If you do not consider the additional costs or revenues your plan is going to drive, you may be creating a plan you cannot implement.. It is written only by someone extremely well-known and highly-regarded. Your research might show you should not go in a direction you might want to. Strategic planning is often continuous for nonprofits. Assess the business Evaluate the business and its current performance using proven assessment tools. But, if I have just one single line, I would say: 6. (my father passed in 2006). No-code required. Many people confuse goals and objectives, thinking the terms are interchangeable, but many argue that the two are distinct. Franziskas book shows how that message can support you in running your life and business based on courage, love, and kindness instead of fear. After the meetings are over, you have to turn your strategy into action, says Stefan Hofmeyer, an experienced strategist and co-founder of Global PMI Partners. Writing a winning proposal means writing for the client and providing a clear, valuable solution to their problem. If youre not looking at the world around you, youre missing a whole dimension about what should inform your decision making, McNerney advises. Explain the solution's value. For a nonprofit, the strategic plans purpose is mainly how to best advance the mission. This was a very helpful site. Step 2 - Introduction. In this column, let's focus on how we request Forewords, Prefaces and Endorsements from allies to complete an upcoming book. If you are unsure if your book needs a foreword, then it does not. Kick-Off Meeting: 1 hr. If you are a member of your business's decision-making team, such as a manager or team leader, you may help create, update or implement a strategic plan. Vision statements should be short (a few sentences). She recommends coming up with a kind of glossary that defines the terms for your team. iBossWell, Inc.s McNerney reiterates that there are not hard and fast definitions for the terms goals and objectives, as well as many other strategic planning concepts. The areas above the red dotted line are the strategic parts of the plan. Key performance indicators (KPIs) can show you how your business is progressing. If your mission statement could define many companies in your line of work, it is not a good mission statement. A colleague asked me to write a foreward and I had no idea where to start. 3 0 obj Coming up with an evaluation method and KPIs can sometimes be difficult for a nonprofit, since they are often focused on goals other than financial gain. Translate enterprise ambitions into a strategic plan your function can actually use. Instant Acknowledgement Generator [For School Projects], Acknowledgement For School Projects [7 Examples]. You will learn to create a book foreword in four easy steps. An example goal: Increase website fundraising. Performing this analysis will help you figure out what you do best and how you compare to your competition. Are your targets realistic and time-bound? [1] Identify what your organization stands for, what it hopes to accomplish, what its responsibilities are, what segment of the population it wishes to cater to and work with, how it wants to be viewed and what type of growth it wants to experience. Some performance indicators can go into your strategic plan, but you might want to set other goals for your organization. The trick is to identify stakeholder roles. They describe how you will measure the progress needed to arrive at the destination you outlined in the goal. The planning process takes time. After you come up with your goals and objectives, you need to figure out who will do what, how you will market what they do, and how you will pay for what you need to do. By investing in the future of CUHK, we are investing to build a better future for the Hong Kong, regional and global communities. The idea is to pique the readers interest and get them to read the rest of the plan. Were so glad you enjoyed Yens post :).