What Is Strategy Implementation? 6 Key Steps [2022] • Asana

Strategy implementation is the process of turning your strategic plan into action. Whether you're executing a new marketing plan to increase ... Resources|Projectplanning|Whatisstrategyimplementation?6key...Whatisstrategyimplementation?6keystepstosuccessTeamAsanaJune7th,2022•7minreadfacebooktwitterlinkedinJumptosectionThe6keystrategyimplementationstepsWhatyouneedtoimplementastrategyMcKinsey’s7SframeworkThethreeCsofimplementingstrategyStrategyimplementationpitfallsandsolutionsPlan,implement,celebrateViewTemplatesSummaryStrategyimplementationistheprocessofturningyourstrategicplanintoaction.Whetheryou’reexecutinganewmarketingplantoincreasesalesorintroducinganewworkmanagementsoftwaretoincreaseefficiency—yourplanisonlyasvaluableastheimplementation.Inthisarticle,wecoverthepitfallsofstrategyimplementationandhowyoucanavoidthem.Pluscheckoutdifferentframeworksassociatedwiththisprocesstosetyouupforsuccess.Strategyimplementationisthefourthstepinthestrategicmanagementprocessandit’swhereyouturnyourstrategicplanintoaction.Thiscanbeanythingfromexecutinganewmarketingplantoincreasesalestoimplementinganewworkmanagementsoftwaretoboostefficiencyacrossinternalteams.Havingastrategicplanisgreat,butunlessyouhavethebandwidth,resources,andsupporttoimplementyourplanit’snotgoingtodriveactualchangeinyourorganization.We’regoingtocoverthekeystepsofstrategyimplementation,includingpotentialpitfallsandhowyoucanavoidthem,andintroduceyoutoafewframeworkstohelpyousuccessfullyimplementanystrategyyou’recurrentlyworkingon.The6keystrategyimplementationstepsBeforeyoucanimplementyourstrategyyouneedtocreateastrategicplan.Yourstrategicorimplementationplanoutlinesthestepsyourteamororganizationneedstotakeinordertoachieveagoalorobjective.Yourimplementationplanistheroadmaptoasuccessfulstrategyexecutionandshouldincludethefollowingsteps:DefineyourgoalsConductproperresearchMapoutanyrisksScheduleallmilestonesAssigntasksAllocatehelpfulresourcesRead:Whatisanimplementationplan?6stepstocreateoneOnceyourstrategicplanisset,it’stimetogetitontheroad!Therearesixstepstofollowonyourwaytoasuccessfulimplementation.CreateanimplementationplantemplateStep1:Setandcommunicateclear,strategicgoalsThefirststepiswhereyourstrategicplanandyourstrategyimplementationoverlap.  Toimplementanewstrategy,youfirstmustidentifyclearandattainablegoals.Aswithallthings,communicationiskey.Yourgoalsshouldincludeyourvisionandmissionstatements,long-termgoals,andKPIs. Theclearerthepicture,theeasiertherestofyourstrategyimplementationwillbeforyourteamandorganization—simplybecauseeveryonewillbeworkingtowardsthesamegoals. Step2:EngageyourteamToimplementyourstrategybotheffectivelyandefficiently,youneedtocreatefocusanddriveaccountability.Thereareafewwaysinwhichyoucankeepyourteamengagedthroughouttheimplementationprocess:Determinerolesandresponsibilitiesearlyon.UseaRACImatrixtoclarifyyourteammate’srolesandensurethattherearenoresponsibilitygaps.Delegateworkeffectively.Whileitcanbetemptingtohaveyoureyesoneverything,micromanagementwillonlyholdyouback.Onceyou’vedefinedeveryone’srolesandresponsibilities,trustthatyourteamwillexecutetheirtasksaccordingtotheimplementationplan.Communicatewithyourteamandensurethateveryoneknowshowtheirindividualworkcontributestotheproject.Thiswillkeepeveryonemotivatedandontrack.Read:Collaborationintheworkplace:11waystoboostyourteam’sperformanceStep3:ExecutethestrategicplanAllocatenecessaryresources—likefundingforstrategicoroperationalbudgets—soyourteamcanputthestrategicplanintoaction.Ifyoudon’thavetherightresourcesyouwon’tbeabletoachieveyourstrategicplan,sothisshouldbeatoppriority.Here’showyoucanensurethatyourteamhastheresourcestheyneed:Startwiththeendinmindtoeffectivelyalignyourproject’sobjectives,keydeliverables,milestones,andtimeline.Identifyavailableresourceslikeyourteam’scapacity,youravailablebudget,requiredtoolsorskills,andanyotherunconventionalresourcesDefineaclearprojectscopesoyouknowexactlywhatyourprojectneedswhen.Shareyourprojectplanwitheveryoneinvolvedintheimplementationprocessusingaworkmanagementtool.Thebetterbuiltoutyourstrategicplanis,theeasieritwillbetoimplementit.Read:7strategicplanningmodels,plus8frameworkstohelpyougetstartedStep4:StayagileYou’llinevitablyrunintoissuesasyoubeginimplementingyourstrategy.Whenthishappens,shiftyourgoalsoryourapproachtoworkaroundthem. Createaschedulesoyoucanfrequentlyupdatethestatusofyourgoalsorimplementationstrategychanges.Dependingonthestrategyyou’reimplementing,youcancreateweekly,monthly,orquarterlyprojectstatusreports.Sharetheseupdateswithyourexternalstakeholders,aswellasyourinternalteam,tokeepeveryoneintheloop.Havingacentralsourceoftruthwhereyoucanupdateyourteaminrealtimewillhelpyoustreamlinethisprocess.Asana’sworkmanagementsoftwareallowsyourteamtocoordinateprojects,tasks,andprocessesinrealtimebutalsogivesyouthefreedomtogetworkdoneasynchronously—providingeveryonewiththevisibilitytheyneedtounderstandwho’sdoingwhat.Step5:GetclosureOnceyouimplementthestrategy,connectwitheveryoneinvolvedtoconfirmthattheirworkfeelscomplete.Implementingastrategyisn’tlikeapuzzlethat’sfinishedwhenthelastpieceisset.It’slikeplantingagardenthatcontinuestogrowandchangeevenwhenyouthinkyou’redonewithyourwork.Gettingclosurefromyourteamwillbethesecondtolastmilestoneofyourstrategyimplementationandisacrucialsteptowardcompletion.Step6:ReflectConductapost-mortemorretrospectivetoreflectontheimplementedstrategy,aswellasevaluatethesuccessoftheimplementationprocessandthestrategyitself.Thisstepisachancetouncoverlessonslearnedforupcomingprojectsandstrategieswhichwillallowyoutoavoidpotentialpitfallsandembracenewopportunitiesinthefuture.Read:6stepsforasuccessfulprojectpostmortemmeetingWhatyouneedtoimplementastrategyNomatterhowwellthoughtoutyourstrategyis,you’llneedthesefivekeycomponentstosuccessfullyimplementanystrategy.CreateanimplementationplantemplatePeopleYou’llneedateamthatnotonlyunderstandsthestrategyyouwanttoimplementbutalsohastheskillsandbandwidthtosupportyou.Appoint,hire,andtraintherightpeopleforthejobandensurethatthecompetenciesneededtosucceedarepresentinyourprojectteam.Asana’sCustomerSuccessteamwasinvaluabletoourimplementationprocess.TheytookthetimetounderstandourbusinessandshowedushowtocreatepracticalworkflowsandprocessestogetthemostoutofAsana.Wecouldn’thavedoneitwithoutthem.”—LayneAnderson,AgileMarketingLeadatHudlResourcesEffectiveresourceallocationisoneofthemostimportantpartsinstrategyimplementation.Resourcescanbebothfinancial(e.g.,costoflabor)andnon-financial(e.g.,timetoimplementstrategy).OrganizationEveryoneinyourorganizationneedstoknowwhattheirresponsibilitiesaresotheycanbeaccountablefortheirpartinimplementingthestrategy.Thisalsomeansthatthechainofcommandhastobedefinedandcommunicatedsoeveryoneknowswhotocommunicatewithduringtheimplementationprocess.SystemsThetools,capabilities,andsystemsyou’veputinplaceareanotherkeycomponent.Youhavetoknowwhatthefunctionsofeachofthesesystemsareandhowtheywillsupportyourstrategicmanagementprocessduringandaftertheimplementation. CultureThefinalkeycomponentistheorganizationalculturewithinyourcompany.Rollingoutnewstrategiescanbeconfusingandstressfulforteams.Ensuringthateveryoneknowswhattheyneedtoknowandfeelsvaluedandincludediscrucialforasuccessfulandeffectiveimplementation.Read:Whatischangemanagement?6stepstobuildasuccessfulchangemanagementprocessMcKinsey’s7SframeworkMcKinsey&Companyisaworld-renownedmanagementconsultingfirmthat,amongotherthings,createdaframeworkofsevenfactorsneededtoimplementastrategysuccessfully.Thefactorscanbesplitintohardelements(strategy,structure,andsystems)andsoftelements(sharedvalues,skills,style,andstaff).Whilethehardelementsareeasytoidentifyandinfluencedirectly,thesoftelementsarelesstangibleandtypicallyinfluencedbythecompanycultureversusamanagerorotherdirectcontact.Let’stakeaquicklookattheMcKinsey7SModel,beginningwiththehardelements:Strategy:Yourorganization’splantoestablishormaintainacompetitiveadvantageoverothersinthefieldStructure:Yourcompany’sorganizationalstructureSystems:Theday-to-dayproceduresandactivitiesperformedbyyourteamsThesearethesoftelementsoftheframework:Style:TheleadershipstyleinyourorganizationStaff:YourteamandtheirgeneralcapabilitiesSkills:Yourteam’scompetenciesandskillsSharedvalues:Yourorganization'scorevaluesYoucanapplythisframeworktoyourstrategyimplementationprocessbylookingatyourorganization’ssharedvaluesfirstandensuringthattheyalignwithyourhardelements.Next,identifyhowwellyourhardelementssupportoneanotherandwherechangescouldimprovetheirinteraction.Afteryou’veestablishedthat,dothesameforyoursoftelements.Thisanalysishelpsyouidentifyelementsthatareworkingwellandelementsthatneedimprovement.Applyingthisframeworktoyourstrategicplanandstrategyimplementationprocesshelpsyougetabetterfeelforhowwellyourorganizationcanimplementchange.ThethreeCsofimplementingstrategyBusinessconsultantandauthorScottEdingercoinedthethreeCsofimplementingstrategy—clarity,communication,andcascade.They’rethethreestepsyoushouldkeepinmindifyouwanttoimplementyourstrategysuccessfully.Let’stakeacloserlookatwhattheyrepresent.Clarifyyourstrategy.Ideally,strategywaswellreceivedintheboardroomandyourstakeholdersandexecutivesareonboard.However,ifit’snotclearlydefined,youmayloseyourmid-levelandfrontlineteammembersalongtheway.Yourteamcanonlyimplementastrategytheyunderstand,sobeclearwithwhatyourgoalsandstrategicobjectivesare.Communicateyourstrategy.Aposter,announcement,ornewsletterwon’tbeenoughtocommunicateanewstrategytoyourorganization.Diversifyyourcommunicationstrategytoensurethatteamsknowwhat’sgoingonandcreateopportunitiestoaskquestionssoeveryonefeelslikethey’repartoftheprocess.Cascadeyourstrategy.Awellimplementedstrategycascadesthroughyourentireorganization.Involveyourorganization’smanagersandensurethattheyunderstandthestrategysotheycanforwardrelevantinformation,tactics,andprocessestotheirteams.Whileyoumayhaveinformedyourorganizationduringthecommunicationstage,thisstepiscrucialinaligningeverylastteammatewithyournewstrategy.Next,let’shavealookatsomeofthechallengesyou’llencounterduringstrategyimplementation.StrategyimplementationpitfallsandsolutionsAbigundertakingliketheimplementationofanewstrategycomeswithitsfairshareofobstacles.Belowarefourofthemostcommonpitfallsyou’llencounterwhenimplementingastrategyplusafewtipsonhowyoucancreatesolutionsforyourteam. 1. OverwhelmingormeaninglessstrategicplanProblem:Ifthestrategicimplementationlacksmeaningandpotentialorifthereisanoverwhelmingnumberofpuzzlepiecestoconsider,itcanreallyputawrenchinyourimplementation. Solution:UseSMARTgoalstoensurethatyourstrategicplanisspecific,measurable,achievable,realistic,andtime-bound.Thisframeworkwillensurethatyourstrategicplanisbothmeaningfulandpossibletoimplement.2.NoimplementationinsightProblem:It’sgreattohaveastrategicplanbutwithouttheresourcesandsupportfromuppermanagement,theimplementationmayneverhappen.Solution:Yourstrategicplanshouldincludecleargoals,consequences,andrequirementstoinspiretheactualimplementationofyourstrategy.Theclearerthedocument,theeasieritwillbetogettheresourcesneededtoturnitintoaction.3.LackofcommunicationandownershipProblem:Ateamthat’snot100%surewhatthestrategyactuallyisanddoesn’tfeelconfidentabouttheirrespectivetaskscanmakeyourimplementationprocesscometoahaltbeforeit’sevenbegun.Solution:Clearlydefineeachteammember'sresponsibilitiesanddelegateanyrelevantwork.Thisgivesteammembersasenseofownershipovertheoutcomeofthestrategyimplementation.Ensurethatyourteammateshavetheauthorityandresourcestoexecutetheirtasks.Createanimplementationplantemplate4.LackofaccountabilityandempowermentProblem:Lowvisibilityandalackofaccountabilitycanmakeyourteamfeelhelpless. Solution:Scheduleregularstrategyreviewandteammeetingstodiscusseachteammember’sprogress,issuesthatarearising,andstrategyshiftsthatcancontributetothesuccessofyourimplementation.Tracktheprogresstogiveyourteamasenseofaccomplishmentwhenevertheycheckoffanothergoalthey’vemet.Aslongasyou’reawareofthechallenges,youcantacklethemheadonandavoidunnecessarysetbacks.Plan,implement,celebrateChangeisn’teasybutinorderforyourteamtogrow,it’scrucialthatyourorganizationdoestoo.Whetheryou’reinthemidstofdevelopingyourstrategicplanwithasmallprojectteamoryou’realreadycommunicatingyourstrategytotheentireorganization,reliableprojectmanagementsoftwareiscriticalinensuringthateveryonehasaccesstotheresourcestheyneed.Andoncethestrategyissuccessfullyimplemented,don’tforgettogiveyourselfandyourteamapatontheback.Afterall,celebratingmilestonesliketheseisimportanttoo!CreateanimplementationplantemplateSources:HarvardBusinessSchool|MindTools|OnStrategyRelatedresourcesTemplateProjectinitiationtemplateTemplatePremortemtemplateTemplateProjectchartertemplateTemplatePublicrelationsplantemplate