The economic planning process is divided into the following stages: developing a strategy and determining tactics for its implementation. In the first case, a set of goals of the enterprise is determined, as well as the main ways to achieve them. Tactics involves finding the best option for implementing the selected methods.
The word "strategy" is of Greek origin. Its original meaning is the "art of the general" to find the right ways to achieve victory.
Today, in market conditions, strategic planning is the development and determination of the general direction of the enterprise. It should be noted that this is a fairly serious and responsible work. Simply formulating desired goals and determining the most convenient options for their implementation is not yet a strategy. For its implementation, it is necessary first of all to proceed from the actual development opportunities of the enterprise. Strategic planning is the response of the company to objective internal and external circumstances in its activities. As a rule, the development of a set of goals and determination of methods for their implementation is carried out for a long period. But in many companies, preference is given to medium-term projects.
The process of developing goals and ways to achieve them is a rather complicated sequence of operations. The main stages of strategic planning provide that each new event should occur immediately after the previous one. The whole process requires a special management skill and flexibility. People who participate in the development, not only go through all stages of strategic planning, performing the prescribed functions. They should be able to change the nature of the action, be creative in solving problems, if necessary.
The development of goals and determination of how to achieve them is carried out by marketing staff and management.
Regardless of the size of the enterprise, what is its scope of activity, the stages of strategic planning are some basis. For each company, each stage acquires its own specifics. However, using a cross-cutting project is equally beneficial for everyone.
Stages of Strategic Planning
- Definition of tasks of the enterprise. The objectives of the company are associated with a long orientation to a specific type of activity, as well as to a corresponding niche in the market.
- The formation of business units. They are responsible for the assortment group or for a specific product department within the organization, with a focus on a particular market and manager. At the same time, the latter is endowed with absolute responsibility for combining all functions into a strategy.
- Formulation of marketing goals. Each formed business unit in the enterprise must establish its own objectives for marketing activities. As a rule, they are determined both in quantitative and qualitative indicators.
- Carrying out a situational analysis. At this stage, the marketing opportunities of the enterprise and the alleged problems that it may encounter are determined.
- The implementation of tactics involves the implementation of specific actions for the implementation of an established project.
- Tracking the results involves comparing the planned indicators with the achieved. Comparison is carried out for a specific period of time. For this, time schedules, budgets, cost analysis, sales data are used.
All stages of strategic planning in the aggregate make it possible to clarify emerging problems, prepare the company for unexpected changes in the environment, and improve coordination of actions at the enterprise.