Summary
The importance and advantages of making strategic planning in organizations that helps them improve their competitiveness as well as be at the forefront, innovating continuously and correctly as well as their collaborators to stay and grow in this world so globalized and technological, which requires a high degree of preparation, skill and anticipation of social needs and the organization itself.
introduction
In this essay we will see the importance of applying strategic planning in organizations, as well as the influence it has on the achievement of small and large objectives, we will analyze the most objective way and how to carry out adequate planning from a global point of view, taking advantage of everything that surrounds us to achieve the goals set.
Planning is part of everyone's life, planning to go shopping, activities that will take place during the day, a family reunion or birthday party etc., planning is present in the family circle, at work In people, in companies, we can say that it is an integral part of each and every one of us, as well as organizations, to make effective and correct decisions, we rely on strategic planning.
Many times, making a decision causes fear or fear of the unknown or what will happen if they venture into something new, and this is also experienced in organizations, whether small, medium or large, that is why it is important to do a strategic planning, which helps to predict which would be the different scenarios of what could be or happen, and thus be able to make decisions about it for what is wanted in the future, all areas of the company are involved here: accounting and finance, marketing, purchasing, production, etc.
Not planning is not knowing how things are going to be done, both people and companies may be afraid of the way in which they can achieve their objectives, because not knowing how to plan correctly would not achieve the desired, for this it is important to support us of a strategic planning that helps us to achieve the objectives and these must be: clear, realistic, achievable, measurable, using the means and resources that we have at our disposal. As well as the development of a good SWOT (Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Threats) that helps us to know what direction to take.
II. Background
The definition of planning is a, "General plan, methodically organized and often broad, to obtain a specific objective, such as the economic development of a city, economic development, the operation of an industry…" (D. Real Academia, E.)
On the other hand, "Socrates in ancient Greece compares the activities of a businessman with those of a general by pointing out that in every task those who perform it properly have to make plans and move resources to achieve the objectives." (Posadas, 2005)
For centuries it had its importance, “Planning as part of the administrative process had its first contributions within the administrative evolution. The Egyptians in the year 1300 BC give importance to the administration by means of papyri, for the construction of temples and their pyramids ”. (Posadas, 2005)
For Godstein in his book strategic planning, planning is defined as “it is the process of establishing objectives and choosing, before taking action, the most appropriate means to achieve these objectives. Planning is deciding in advance. It is the process of deciding before action is required ”. (Goodstein., 1998)
Then we can say that planning is the way by which decisions are made taking into account the existing variables for the choice of the most suitable for their own needs, as well as the organization that will be had to be able to execute what is planned, with the Adequate direction to be able to achieve the objective (s), and lastly, the control that must be had to measure the results if they were as expected or if modifications to the planning are needed.
The strategy, according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy says that it is "In an adjustable process, a set of rules that augur an optimal decision at all times" (D. Real Academia.).
For General Sun Tzu of China, in his book "The Art of War" he tells very precisely how to make a strategy effectively in chapter 11 he says "… You are not prepared to lead an army until be familiar with the face of the territory… ”(Tzu, 2012, p. 84).
The concept of the Strategy "are alternate courses of action that solve the problem of how to achieve the most efficient adaptation of the means to the ends or purposes of the company." (Garcia & Valencia, 2007, p. 21).
On the other hand, Godstein in his book strategic planning, defines this as "the process through which those who guide the organization create a vision of (imagine) their future and develop the procedures and operations that are needed to achieve that future." (Goodstein., 1998).
For Thompson "The strategy of a company is the management action plan to operate the business and direct its operations…" (Thompson, Strickland, & Gamble, 2012, p. 16).
We can say that the most important part of the strategy is to know the world that surrounds us and to apply one or more tactics, which help to take advantage of the available means and resources that we have at our disposal and are adequate to achieve the objectives of the organization that is; Through strategic planning the future of it is defined.
On the other hand, we will address the Concept of objectives, "they are the ends towards which the efforts of a human group should be directed." (Garcia & Valencia, 2007, p. 17).
So we say that the objectives are the direction in which employees must set themselves to achieve them.
III. Development
Strategic planning provides managers and employees with a vision of what can be achieved in the future for the company in which they work, as well as tranquility and a sense of belonging in the organization, causing a motivation and drive towards active participation, collaboration and teamwork seeking to achieve the objectives set.
Today, companies have to be constantly at the forefront due to this already globalized world, and make the most of all available and achievable resources for their continuity in the market.
Technology plays a very important role in organizations since it helps and encourages them to be more efficient in their processes as well as in obtaining and / or creating new products, that is why it is very important to keep staff in constant training and seek new technologies that help you achieve better efficiency and effectiveness, to achieve better competitiveness in the market in which it is, as well as seek its expansion.
Thompson, Strickland and Gamble, in their book strategic management, refer to the importance of planning and how it makes a difference in organizations “… what separates a powerful strategy from a common one is the ability of management to forge a series of movements, both in the market and within, that moves the company away from its rivals, tips the balance in its favor, giving customers reasons to prefer its products or services, and produces a sustainable competitive advantage over its rivals… ”(Thompson, Strickland, & Gamble, 2012, p. 22).
One of the great challenges of the administration today is to know what the current situation of the organization is, what path it will take to achieve its objectives and how it should reach its goals, companies have full power to decide what their strategy will be to position themselves in the market, not all of them compete in the same way that is why it is important to know what their current situation is through a detailed assessment of how it is made up in its entirety for this there are very effective methods and one is the SWOT method that It will help, to know where your strategic planning will be directed, whether in production, services, processes, etc.
The establishment of the objectives in the organization, in order to achieve them, they are supported by strategic planning, this is based on the vision of the company since it tells us what is the way in which the organization is visualized in the future. To achieve adequate and effective strategic planning, it is important to carry out a study of the current situation of the company internally and externally, to achieve this, it is necessary to rely on the SWOT method:
- Strengths: advantages and qualities available internally. Opportunities: those that exist abroad and that we can take advantage of (technology, new markets, etc.). Weaknesses: these are the areas of opportunity or disadvantages that we have to reinforce and turn them into strengths. Threats: these are external and indicate what are the things that at any given time can harm us and prevent the company from achieving the desired objectives or even its membership in the market.
A broad analysis and adequate evaluation of the company's situation gives us as a result the different scenarios, these indicate or give us information on the possible actions, advantages, disadvantages, and avoid risks when choosing the variable that is most appropriate to the needs of the company.
Once the objective or objectives have been set, with the choice of the scenario that will guide us or mark the way forward, we must adhere to the administrative process which will help us achieve what is expected, this consists of the following: All the areas of the company or those involved must change their planning and / or adapt it to the one already established by the management, in the organization phase this indicates who will be the people who will be in charge of certain responsibilities that support the achievement of the objectives, these in turn have the responsibility to correctly and adequately direct all the processes that are going to be carried out so that they are fulfilled in an effective way, the final step is control,This is where all the results are evaluated and it is determined if the planning was adequate and if the objectives were achieved or some modifications have to be made.
IV. Conclusions
In conclusion: dreams and the way that managers see things give the members of the companies a vision of how they can be seen in the future, this gives the company a sense and identification of individuality and that dreams are possible to achieve, and without a doubt they will.
The existence of various sources of thought in planning, direction and strategy have entered the economic-administrative areas and have allowed the efficient and effective development of various theses on strategic planning, achieving an optimal functioning of an organization.
V. References
- D. Real Academia, E. (sf). Usual dictionary. Retrieved on January 28, 2014, from http://buscon.rae.es/drae/srv/search?val=planificacionesD. Real Academia., E. (nd). Usual dictionary. Retrieved on January 28, 2014, from http://buscon.rae.es/drae/srv/search?val=estrategiaGarcia, SE, & Valencia, VM (2007). Strategic planning. Mexico: trillas.Goodstein., LD (1998). Applied strategic planning. United States: Mac Graw Hill Posadas, FJ (2005).. Retrieved on Tuesday, January 2014, Thompson, AA, Strickland, AJ, & Gamble, E. (2012). Management strategy. In &. A. Arthur. AT, Strategy Administration. Mac Graw Hill. Tzu, S. (2012). The Art of War. In S. Tzu, The Art of War (p. 84). Mexico: Lectorum.
