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Good projects map well to organizational goals. In fact, the best organizations make sure their initiatives are in alignment with their strategic plan. Whether for project initiation or for simply evaluating how the value of a project fits within the organization, becoming familiar with the strategic plan is invaluable.

A 5 Point Approach to Strategic Planning

There are many approaches to strategic+planning" rel="tag directory">strategic planning, but they are very similar and link high level vision and objectives to tactical actions. One approach is to think through these 5 points for your organization:

1. Vision - where the organization wants to be in the future

2. Mission - purpose, or why the organization exists

3. Values - organization’s culture and priorities, protected by the organization during progression

4. Goals - particular results that an organization strives to produce in carrying out its mission.

5. Tactics and Initiatives - actionable behaviors and initiatives through which goals – supporting the mission and vision, and executed within the values - are achieved

Projects and Strategic Planning

Projects typically come to life in the realm of Tactics and Initiatives. Usually Tactics are more actionable behavior oriented, and thus support ongoing activities. Projects usually arise out of Initiatives, supporting some change identified in the goals.

If you are working in the area of project+portfolio+management" rel="tag directory">project portfolio management, strategic plans can be a good source of guidance for prioritizing+projects" rel="tag">prioritizing projects. Changes in strategic plans can be a good source of guidance for cancelling or initiating+projects" rel="tag">initiating projects.

If you are working on a particular project, it is critical to understand where your project fits into the organizational picture. What organizational goals does it support? Does it support the organization’s vision and mission? How are the organization’s values being expressed in the execution of the project?

No Strategic Plan? What Would You Do?

Yikes! There is no formal strategic plan in many cases! The recommended action – and I have done it many times myself – is to create one. Go through the 5 points above in order, and do your best to outline some ideas. Enlist the help of team members and others within the organization. What may happen is that you actually create a process for developing a strategic plan within the organization! It may be adopted when the value is shown, which you can do in showing how your project maps to it. You may find other projects mapping to it before long!

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John Reiling, PMP

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