If you're interested in staying ahead of the competition, then you need to plan your business strategically. Effective strategic planning analyzes, addresses, and improves every aspect of a firm for both the short- and long-term.
ZweigWhite's A/E Strategic Planning Cookbook demystifies the strategic planning process by providing a step-by-step road map to creating an effective strategic plan for your A/E firm. You'll learn what strategic planning really involves, and what common pitfalls to avoid. This one-stop guide also contains real-world case studies, offering rare insight into the strategic planning processes that successful firms of all types and sizes are using today.
Summary of What's Inside:
Learn what strategic planning is and what common pitfalls to avoid
How to use strategic planning to create more value for your A/E firm
Understand the issues you should be addressing in your firm's strategic plan
Develop mission and vision statements that define your firm and where you want to go
Get advice on how to set appropriate short- and long-term goals for your business
Learn how to conduct effective planning sessions and who should be included in these meetings
Effectively communicate your firm's strategic plan to management and staff
Read real-world case studies of how other firms navigate the strategic business planning process
Learn what strategic planning is and what common pitfalls to avoid
How to use strategic planning to create more value for your A/E firm
Understand the issues you should be addressing in your firm's strategic plan
Develop mission and vision statements that define your firm and where you want to go
Get advice on how to set appropriate short- and long-term goals for your business
Learn how to conduct effective planning sessions and who should be included in these meetings
Effectively communicate your firm's strategic plan to management and staff
Read real-world case studies of how other firms navigate the strategic business planning process
Why Strategic Planning is Vital to Your A/E Firm's Future
Think about it; would you rather fire a preemptive salvo or scramble to save your business after a crisis? Would you rather be ahead of the curve, or constantly trying to catch up with your competitors? Would you rather lead proactively or just manage reactively? If you’re interested in staying ahead of the curve and being in the driver’s seat, then you need to plan your business strategically. You need a road map to follow to make sure your firm is staying on course and achieving the right goals.
Every successful architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firm needs a plan of action. Too many design and construction firms wait until they’re facing a crisis, then react to it. Successful firms know what they are trying to become, plan ahead, and continuously make themselves more valuable. They build a road map and then follow it by using strategic planning.
Strategic planning is the most powerful tool firm leaders can use to guide their firms toward future growth and prosperity. Effective strategic business planning analyzes, addresses, and improves every aspect of a firm for both the short- and long-term. With strategic planning, you can identify where you want your firm to go, and you'll be able to tell when you get there because you'll have achieved set milestones and can measure the outcome of your efforts according to the plan's steps.
ZweigWhite’s A/E Strategic Planning Cookbook explains what strategic planning is and what it should be. It shows you the importance of developing a mission and vision that are right for your firm and how to let firm members understand their part in the process. The meaningful advice presented in ths best practices publication can help you put together a strategic plan of your own- one that truly works.
Learn the key elements of a strategic plan including:
What strategic planning is... and isn't
How to use strategic planning to create more value for your firm
How to develop mission and vision statements that really capture what your firm is and what you want to be
How to communicate the plan
How to conduct effective planning sessions and who should be included in these meetings
How to implement the plan to ensure that your firm gets to where you want it to go
What pitfalls to avoid
How to measure your success
ZweigWhite's A/E Strategic Planning Cookbook demystifies the strategic planning process by teaching you straightforward techniques that really work. It’s filled with useful tools and tidbits including profiles of firms that have successful strategic planning programs. The case studies section of the A/E Strategic Planning Cookbook offers you rare insight into the strategic planning processes other successful firms of all types and sizes are using today. Use these examples to benchmark your firm and add new ideas and elements to your planning for competitive advantage.
The right road map will lead you to the treasure faster; let the A/E Strategic Planning Cookbook be your guide to getting more out of your strategic planning activities.
Chapter 1: What is Strategic Planning?
What is strategy?
Creating a more valuable firm
Strategy leads to value
Chapter 2: The Strategic Planning Process
From mission to value
Mission and vision
Overcoming challenges
Strategies and goals
Developing an action plan
Chapter 3: Strategic Planning Meetings
Not just a retreat
Who and where?
Facilitators vs. consultants
Outside consultants
Setting an agenda
Get planning!
Chapter 4: Communicating the Plan
Understanding the plan
Roles and responsibilities
Ensuring buy-in
Chapter 5: Implementation
Implementing the strategies
Areas of investment focus
Chapter 6: Measuring the Outcome
Benchmarking
Using the vision to determine the result
Metrics
Chapter 7: Case Studies
Learn from other architecture, engineering, and environmental firms that have successfully used strategic planning for competitive advantage.
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