Resources

Guide

Designing Practical, Outcome-Driven Strategic Plans

Renewing, refreshing, or sometimes creating brand new strategic plans every few years is a very resource-intensive exercise. Considering the expense of hiring a consultant to lead this work, if you are interested in developing a pragmatic, outcome-driven strategic plan in-house, this guide can help. This document provides a clear, basic, step-by-step process:

1. 1

   Project Planning

2. 2

   Environmental Scan

3. 3

   Engagement

4. 4

   Strategic Goal Development

5. 5

   Measure Design

You can "right-size" each step, based on what your organization has the capacity to do.

Throughout, I offer suggestions on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, etc., to help the process, while avoiding the pitfalls.

Guide

Systematizing Organizational Analysis and Decision-Making with Briefing Notes

A strong, clear, outcome-driven strategic plan, with a matching operational plan, is fundamental to an organization’s success. But even with strong plans in place, effective execution and navigation of emerging opportunities and risks require consistently excellent decision-making.

Excellent decision-making is systematic, driven by analysis that properly captures the relevant perspectives and considerations, and facilitated by clear communication. Of course, this is easier said than done! And there isn’t just one ‘right way’ to do it. But a helpful tool in trying to foster excellent decision-making is the memo or "briefing note".

This resource offers guidance on how to write high-quality briefing notes to support effective decision-making at your organization. The guidance is delivered through three steps:

1. 1

   How to scope the briefing note's parameters

2. 2

   How to structure and write your briefing note

3. 3

   How to appropriately use AI to improve and speed up your work