Strategies initiatives fail either through poor implementation or because they simply do not deliver timely results.

It is the latter that I will discuss here, as I advocate that strategy development should be handled in a process managed way.

It is far too easy for a strategy team to go off tangentally from their remit into areas that are way beyond the company’s area of competence. It is also the case that teams will get bogged down in the weeds, seeking ever greater levels of data and in doing so failing to see the big picture.

A sound project management approach controls and reduces these diversions, it keeps the team on track and delivers results in a timely fashion.

At Balmoral Strategy Development Limited we adopt an approach that is based upon Prince2 project management methodology.

Listed below are what we consider essential criteria

1.  Each project starts with the creation of a terms of reference, which clearly deliverables, expectations and contraints. This must be signed off by all interested parties.
2. All projects have a steering group , which reviews, assesses outputs and provides feedback throughout the process.
3. All teams potential members are subject to interview and personality profiling. Only when the right blend of experience and personality types are recruited does the project formally begin.
4. All projects are assigned a process/project manager, who is a process expert and experienced facilitator.

I would recommend you all to consider a managed process approach the next time your are considering a strategy develompent project.

As usual all comments welcome - Stephen Coe , Director Balmoral Strategy Development Limited