For many managers, the term "business planning" is a word to describe what 30 years ago, was conceived as financial management, budget and therefore the restricted domain of the accountant. For others, it may represent a document required to obtain a bank account or a loan from their bankers. A business plan May be the most important document that can be completed in each activity. This document is intended to remove that taboo and simplify the strategic> Process of business planning is everything and how its benefits can be maximized by the management company.
THE CONCEPT OF "STRATEGIC PLANNING"
When we speak of a strategic plan, the message is transmitted on the strategies and tactics to be adopted by an organization to achieve its missions and objectives. An integral part of the financial plan, but the strategic plan is a plan at all, if notE-marketing, human resources, ICT and other resources needed to integrate and unify their efforts in organizing to achieve the objectives in terms of maximizing profits. Thus, a business plan should achieve four key objectives:
• This is a management tool to provide both inside and outside the organization's objectives for the period of the business plan;
• It provides the strategic framework for the overall management of the company;
• Eallows the identification of objectives and how these goals could be achieved and, most important, followed closely
• To demonstrate that adequate controls and monitoring of targets, provides an effective way to attract new capital for business goals.
What is needed?
Many have likened the marketing of a strategic plan for business for the CV of a candidate when applying for a job. What shouldassured that the plan is not just figures and numbers, but also shows a good understanding of these key elements for achieving the objectives. Therefore, we must first ask yourself questions like:
Who are we?
What do we do?
Who are our customers and what are their expectations?
What and where is our business is in one, two, three, five years?
What should we do now to get where we want to be?
How should we getthere?
We have the resources in terms of cars, people, finance, high technology and so on?
We need to obtain external financing and the type / level is close to us?
We could continue to ask questions because we want our level of detail. No doubt the answer would require a major effort in terms of time and resources than others. The most important factors determining this preliminary stage of planning is to ensure that wethe right questions, which we do business in the direction we want to go. On the other hand, the operator must be aware of asking too many questions that lead nowhere. The objective of this process is to help managers understand what the target, then plan on how to achieve this goal.
Efficiency and flexibility
What are the nuts and bolts of an effective and strong strategic business plan that offers real business objectives? L 'mission, objectives and overall strategy should be determined. Particular attention should be focused on implementation and evaluation, after the definition of objectives and strategies. Here the company will succeed or fail. Experience has shown that sometimes a business plan must be radically changed after one year to comply with the conditions changing and unstable. Do not be surprised! This is an experience of health. Like anymanager knows, strictly adhere to a particular regime, when the company withdraws into a cocoon, can lead to these dark clouds of threat following the failure of trade. An exhibition illustrates the critical success factors (CSF) of a good strategic planning d 'business, while part B illustrates the advantages of a well-organized that distinguishes one company from another. These benefits ensure that the organization is oriented in a homogeneous andglued to the ultimate goal of maximizing profits.
THE ESSENTIALS
We must remember that even the best business plan, which takes many hours to compile, only takes a few minutes drive. Perhaps a quick glance at the summary and conclusion will be the main determinants for the success or failure of the plan. Is it true that ideas backed by big business management techniques, advanced might notwithout written notice. But that possibility minutes for bankruptcy requires further efforts for the slight advantage of the possibilities of success. Clearly, this means that a strategic plan should in itself be expected! Exhibit C provides a practical guide that shows the essential requirements for a successful strategic business plan. Managers must put themselves in the shoes of those who read the strategic plan which will be followeddecide whether the board of directors, the bank or creditor. So, what the reader wants or does not know, determines the structure and development plan.
The planning
Before starting the preparation of the plan, the company must ensure it is written by a person or a group that really matters, because the enthusiasm and commitment they put into it. In addition, a team that in all probability, be in possession of a largeamount of information to determine the goals, objectives and resources required for the organization. In a fundamental may be the message to the compilers of the plan. The team is clearly and effectively demonstrate that it meets the following criteria:
• It has the expertise to collect good shots. A variety of disciplines to meet the organization in order to ensure a holistic approach.
. You can successfully achieve the objectivesOverall, this means that the authors of the plan should also include potential or those managers who will actually implement and monitor the performance of the plan;
• We have already done what is proposed – this means that there is sufficient expertise and experience, with plans of the past in terms of objectives and results;. He understands all the risks and pitfalls. Contingency planning is part of a business plan where the risks are realisticcarefully planned;
• May not involve the business plan at the level of resources present and future. In general, each organization has a voice, big or small, from United Nations resources used. The strategic plan is the tool that detects and uses these resources effectively in abeyance.
BUSINESS PLANNING TOOLS
Once the team was identified and the necessary competence and responsibility, what remains is the identification and provision ofneeded to produce the strategic plan instruments. Each organization should choose the tools for proper planning, consideration of such matters as structures, staff skills, organizational cultures, resources, space, etc. However, the following list of great Part of the equipment used is neither exhaustive nor binding, but it is a checklist of highly efficient, which is an invaluable reference:
• Clear and concise forms of planning and guidelines
• A set of planningDefinitions
. Internal and external investigations
. Organizing programs for financial modeling ', high availability and sharing of information
. Identification standard for assessing whether the objectives are achieved
. Training for planning the workforce
. Work / Discussion Groups
Of course, the adoption of these tools depends on the size of the company. For example, in the case of the Task Force / Focus Group, these approaches are used in which the organization tends tobe quite large. This also applies to internal / external Surveys, where the cost and time of collecting such information should be considered in relation to the benefits of the quality of the plan.
An effective plan
What remains is the organization of all data collected and the composition of the strategic business plan. The summary itself is built after the establishment of a rigorous assessment of performance and numbersmessages contained in the plan. The summary should be regarded as the bearer for its readers in a short but effective message, in which the company is today and future scenarios for the proposed plan.
This is the standard for Abstracts to be limited to a page of prose, but more importantly, if one or two or three pages, which is abstract, when we read must immediately give the reader what to expect in the plan and what the regimeconclusions are the objectives, how they will be achieved and what monitoring systems will ensure their delivery. Exhibit D is a good example of an effective synthesis.
Another important issue for a strategic plan for business success is how data are used and how it is communicated through the plan. Senior management is interested in specific objectives and will not tolerate statements of insufficient information orthat give rise to ambiguity or, worse still, the approach is very generic. Exhibit E compares and contrasts two different states, showing that the quality of data transmitted efficiently, the plan of message. Note that the first statement is chock-full of generics, and that does not mean a thing, and worse, leaves the reader puzzled as complete when he / she started.
But perhaps the goal of the plan's business must be conducted on the financialanalysis and projections that support the scenarios proposed by the plan. The analysis provides the financial impact of strategic business plan into numbers that could be chewed. That must be part of this section an integral and important financial plan?
-Only a summary
Historical performance and how it relates to scenarios
-Comments on the accuracy of previous plans, profit / loss trends, patterns of fixed costs, cashflow
-An exercise in sensitivity analysis of possible scenarios
-Justification of assumptions
Security risk for investors
Other data show that the proposed plan is financially sustainable, profitable and non-profit motivation.
In addition to the above, we can not evaluate other parts of the plan, including marketing, management and operational aspects. The team must ensure that they are able to produce a coherent and well structuredcertainly deliver the message. The need to plan a good deal underlined the need for the organization to maintain a truly effective way to boost the business environment that works inside the treacherous business planning is a highly specialized form of skilled workers to determine the strategic direction, which requires and worth some effort. Without a business plan, organization, those of a tank, without ammunition,Rombo facing a weak opposition. Adherence to the disciplines of corporate strategic planning is not a bad indicator of the companies likely to survive and those destined for the scrap.
APPENDIX A
The key to success factors
Support from senior
People should top "Walk the Talk". The board of directors and managers should introduce the concept of business planning at all levels in all programs, all the functional units for the supportfinancial officers, officials and operating personnel manager
RESPONSIBILITIES
The ultimate responsibility for the strategic business plan being developed, implemented and evaluated both for the branch. The maximum is to ensure that every person is responsible for achieving each goal set by the company
PROPERTY '
Simply put, this means that managers should be responsible for the content, timing and expected results for thespecific area under their supervision
MECHANISMS
It is important that the strategic planning process is considered a "hierarchy" process that connects the upper to lower levels of the enterprise. It starts with business objectives and drops long-term performance targets and individual targets
FEEDBACK
Strategic planning activities must be interactive – you can only improve through the testing, evaluation and feedback. So many milestonesare regular meetings at senior management to assess and, if necessary, correct the plan
Reward / Recognition Program
Workers must be motivated and encouraged to provide a cost effective approach to delivery. The recipients of awards / recognition, their colleagues suggest that this type of behavior is what the organization wants
TABLE B
The advantages of business planning
Provides advice and guidance to the company itself
FostersOpportunities for cross-fertilization, such as sharing resources and knowledge and initiatives of the costs
Improve management of change and opportunities for supervision
Creates, promotes and stimulates the results, with emphasis on climate
It provides managers with a logical assessment of conflicting interests regarding the budget requests, personnel, equipment, proposals reviews
Steers resources where they are most needed
It helps to unify the myriad of decisions throughout thebusiness, providing horizontal and vertical
Coordinate disparate and diverse
Encourages proactive thinking and implementation of programs tailored
Provides an enterprise culture across the organization facilitates the flow of information up and down the hierarchy
Exhibit C
8 of the Rules of Business Planning
Opened with a summary
Not exceed one page and ensure the reader's attention. It listskey points, provides some elements for the general case.
Focus on the audience and the final result
It should arouse the reader's interest, leaving out details that may be useful only to yourself.
Avoid ambiguity
Use simple language. Organize your message through the references, figures and illustrations clear and make good use of graphs and tables.
Project your successes
A business plan supported by a good strong management is what the reader seeks.Highlighting the key findings of the management.
Use clear narrative and figures
The reading should be interesting, the logical flow and provide clear until the end.
Remember the evidence underlying
The data (both external and internal) must be of high quality, relevant and easy to communicate to the reader.
Provide feedback
Involve the active participation of the reader through his comments, questions and explanations.
Ensure highsupport
Most of the business plan from the lower rungs of the management structure. The sample plan must be supported by a mentor on the board of directors.
APPENDIX D
An effective Executive Summary
• Bubu Ltd is a family-owned candy was established 50 years ago by the father of the owner. Turnover has increased rapidly over the past five years to $ 750,000 and profits before taxes of $ 150,000. A new store wasopened this year to offset the increased demand. It also reduces operating costs by 10%.
• The market analysis indicates that there is demand to increase the number of points for two. These will be maintained and controlled by the main zone Outlet. Management believes they can win business from local competitors who can not compete neither on price nor quality.
• The investment costs for the creation of two units is $ 300,000, whilethe average cost of running the daily rate will be about $ 85,000 per year. The funds will be funded up to 30% from additional funds invested by the owner and the remainder secured through bank loans of 10 years.
• The investment with an estimated growth of 8% of sales today to stimulate the profit before tax of this, 19.6% to 25% of turnover.
EXIDBIT E
Good data
Not … Huge growth in this market,soon become absolutely huge and once we have conquered in a few years, there will also launch the international market, also huge, where there are more opportunities and not to compete. And in any case, nobody can copy our unique product.
But … The local market is estimated at about 4.5 million dollars a year and growing about 12% annually. If the development follows the course for neighboring states, the size of the potential market is around 7.6 million dollars, which providessignificant opportunities for growth. Commercial sources indicate that the current market players are required by the difficulty of finding, with current demand and supply relationship clocked at 1.15. This supports the predictions of our sales.
We believe that there are other opportunities for international expansion, where the market is more or less the same stage of development as it was two years ago. Our plans show a modest voice in other international markets, in 18 months …
Ourproducts are small improvements over its competitors, which are protected by both local and international registries.