Strategic Planning Manual - Implement

Implement: to fulfill; perform; carry out; to put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure

How Do We Ensure Implementation of Our New Plan?

A frequent complaint about the strategic planning process is that it produces a document that ends up collecting dust on a shelf—the organization ignores the precious information depicted in the document.

The following guidelines will help ensure that the plan is implemented:

• When conducting the planning process, involve people who will be responsible for implementing the plan. Use a cross-functional team to ensure a realistic and collaborative plan.
• Ensure the plan is realistic. Continue asking planning participants "Is this realistic? Can we really do this?"
• Organize the overall strategic plan into smaller action plans.
• In the overall planning document, specify who is doing what and by when.
• Build in regular reviews of status of the implementation of the plan.
• Be sure to document and distribute the plan, including inviting review from all.
  o Place a huge emphasis on feedback!
• Be sure that one internal person has ultimate responsibility that the plan is enacted in a timely fashion.
• Support of the plan is a major drive to the plan’s implementation.
• Consider having designated rotating "checkers" to verify, e.g., every quarter, if each implementer completed their assigned tasks.
• Consider having pairs of people be responsible for tasks. Have each partner commit to helping the other to finish the other’s tasks on time.