Everyone needs to plan. We all know that, regardless of our role. The planning process is straightforward: determining where we are now and where we would like to be in the future and figuring out the necessary steps how to get there. Another version, and my favorite, is determining the end game first (the goal) and then working backward.
What differentiates the planning process in an organization is the individual’s role and the time frame within our responsibility. A worker usually has an annual plan. As a senior manager, your planning horizon is probably out at least 5 years.
Strategic Planning flooded the U.S. business scene in the early 80’s when quality management came back to American from Japan via Demming and Juran. If you recall, the planning debate started when the Japanese admitted to a planning horizon of 25 to 100 years. At the time, every industry and every company of any size was working on some form of a strategic plan, visioning process, mission statements, and how to adopt quality initiatives into the organization. TQM (Total Quality Management) was the ‘silver bullet’.
In my opinion, strategic innovation has replaced the ‘front end’ of the planning process for a couple reasons. One, we all need something new to show we are progressive. Two, the pace of change and globalization has forced all of us to rethink traditional management processes. Launching some form of innovation in an organization also satisfies the creative need within all humans to have something positive to do. If you are reading this piece and do not have some form of embedded innovation process in your area of responsibility now, you are probably thinking about starting one.
As critical as innovation is, it can turn out to be another ‘program’ like TQM became in many large organizations. If this resonates with you, these initiatives can develop into a life of their own. They can gobble human resources time like starving hogs at the trough. If that is not bad enough, this is long-term work and faced with the challenges of the present economic situation, you need results now, not next year.
Cross pollination is a solution to this time crunched need to do something positive now -a hybrid process that takes ‘best practices’ (pollination) in an industry other than your own and finding out how to transfer this ‘technology’ into your yours. Actually, this is often a component of both Strategic planning and Innovation processes. More importunately, it is faster and I have to say, often more effective than a full-blown innovation program. Cross pollination is a proven roadrubber principle. It is also fun way to spend your valuable time. Make a short list of areas you would like to improve. More than likely, someone in your position in another company and another industry has already figured it out. The treasure hunt begins. GMO