An early overview by PB editors of entries in the National Housing Quality awards reveals strategic planning as a common area of weakness. With that in mind, California-based strategy consultant Bill Birnbaum's list of the most common strategic planning errors may have benefit:
1. Failure to gather needed information before strategy planning sessions. "If you don't have the necessary information, you'll hardly be in a position to make strategic decisions," Birnbaum says. "Anticipate issues you'll likely discuss."
2. Failure to allocate resources to match strategies. "Some managers assume that money, people, facilities and equipment will simply be available," Birnbaum warns. Estimate required resources while developing an action plan to implement the strategy, he says.
3. Failure to understand the limits of strategic planning. "Some managers forget that strategic thinking is infinitely more important than strategic planning," Birnbaum says.
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