Strategic Management to Achieve Goals

Bizmanualz Solutions

Question of the month: How are SMART objectives important in achieving your goals?

The first month of this year’s last quarter is almost over. So, if you haven’t already started, it’s time to think and plan about the upcoming year. The best way to put forward a plan is to start at the top – at the mission, vision and strategy level. That is what our articles in October focused on.

Set Your Strategic Management in Action

Most management systems require at least an annual review of company goals and objectives, as well as its vision and mission. Now, not in January, is the time to conduct reviews so that all changes and revisions can be honed and finalized. This allows you to start the New Year with a clear image in place of where your business or department should be going, and to have it well-communicated throughout the organization at the start of the New Year.

Read more about setting your strategic management in action…

A Sincere Statement of Vision

The vision-mission statement is written for the members of an organization. A clear vision statement should serve as a guiding light for members of the organization to understand what the organization is about, and to what ultimate principle all their efforts should be working toward, in both direct and in supporting roles.

Setting Goals to Realize SMART Objectives

Goals should be set throughout the business: with high level goals set by top management, and then goals set within each department or segment: design, sales, customer service, production, shipping, and so on. Theses goals should align directly with, and ultimately lead to fulfilling, the high level goals. Then goals can be set for groups or individuals within the department that align with and fulfill department goals.

Read more about realizing SMART objectives…

Alignment of Strategies and Tactics

Goal-objective setting, and use of strategies and tactics, may not help your organization if they don’t align properly to achieve desired results. First, goals-objectives-strategies-tactics should be used to fulfill the overarching vision-mission statements. But typically other things need to be happening in the organization as well for it to be successful.

Read more about aligning strategies and tactics…

There is still time in 2007 to develop and communicate vision & mission, goals & objectives, and strategies & tactics for 2008. Departments can create their aligning set. The idea is to have your goals & objectives and strategies & tactics reach far down in the organization, yet support the effort to fulfill organizational goals.

On That Note

Answer to this month’s question:

Making your objectives specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based not only focuses the attention of the organization on high priority activities, but it also creates metrics that can be measured and monitored in order to see how well the organization is performing. SMART objectives assist in creating “dashboard” systems that displays performance, and allows managers to recognize when things get off-track in time to make appropriate corrections. For example, if half the year is gone and the design department has not made one new prototype, then the goal of two new products each year is in danger if corrective action is not taken.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. Our policies, procedures and processes articles site has tons of useful information. Also, please let us know if you’d like any specific topic addressed in our future articles.

Regards,
Chris
Bizmanualz

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