Strategic Planning for Dummies

"Strategic Planning" is a bit of a limited name in my opinion. I'd have called it "Business School in a Book" or maybe, "All the Things You Probably didn't Think About when your Last Business Failed." That's pretty much how I feel as I read it. As I reflect on past mistakes with this as a lens, things seem so much clearer. Providing a birds eye view of the overall business process and all its relevant areas of concern, this already worn book will be sitting on my desk for a long time.

I like practical, actionable advice and this book delivers. You could use it to quickly develop a plan (it gives you shortcuts) or you can use the tools and business examples to go deep into your internal and external analyses. Even though I have done strategic planning before, this book covered several new topics that I will refer to and use as I update our plans. Every time I need a quick refresher, I'll be able to reach for my book and find it. It even helps you with the planning process, like how to hold a strategic planning retreat. No excuses!

This book is a great reference for strategic planning. It is easy-to-use and I loved its conversational approach. The tips and warnings were the best because they stood out and were easy to remember.

My organization had a tough time nailing down what our strategic plan should consist of and how to put it into practical use. We'd been floundering for months. This well-written, easy to understand and easy to implement publication saved the day. Our plan is no longer a binder sitting a bookshelf collecting dust and co-workers don't regard it as, "Whew, we don't have to look at THAT again for the next few years." We're excited about our new focus and Ms. Olsen is to thank for it.

Following the steps outlined in Strategic Planning for Dummies, we were able to put together an entire strategic plan during one weekend and following the author's advice, we also had some fun. We returned with a plan the staff could be excited about and we each have a step-by-step guide to follow. I highly recommend the book and the strategic planning process.