Leadership - Strategy - recording

Strategy - recording

Summary report

Whatever strategy you decide upon it is good practice to record how the decision was made.
For projects this would normally reside in the Project Notebook which is just a central file of all the project information.

It may be a good idea to put this in a stand alone document.
Below are some suggestions for its content.

This is a simple format.
Some means of recording revision numbers should be considered as this is likely to be a live document for larger projects.

Introduction

Keep it brief. What were the general objectives and reasons behind the strategic plan.

Summary

Keep it brief for senior management.
Some aspects here may be recorded elsewhere in more detail.
Note the basic assumptions, the possible timescale, budget, resource assumptions and any next steps.
Perhaps summarise the key points in tabular form and any next steps.

Positioning of the strategic plan

Refer to any organisational business plan’s aspects which have influenced the decision making process.
Note any key assumptions and constraints that have influenced strategy.

Programmes and projects

What are the deliverables and how do they fit in with current organisational business strategy?
What is the business gain?
What are the project timescales and key milestones. Refer to time not dates e.g. say 13 months not ‘by January’.
Give a brief overview of resource requirements. Include personnel and equipment.
Give a cost summary and if necessary a simple payback chart.

Appendices

Add here any supporting information that would detract from the focus in the above sections.

Make sure you don’t repeat information that is available elsewhere in the Project Notebook.

Review

The project strategy should be reviewed at intervals to make sure that the foundations on which it is based have not changed.
One should record the strategy employed as well as recording what actually happened in practice.