Strategic planning for the development of printing industry

The Printing Technologists Forum conducted a lecture meeting on Strategic planning for the development of the printing industry. The speaker Prof Dr B Brahadeeswaran divided his presentation into three parts: Introduction to Strategic Planning, Steps in Strategic Planning and From Strategic Planning to Strategic Management.

Introduction to strategic planning

What is Strategic Planning (SP)? Why should it be? When should it be done? Who should do it? Strategic Planning is a future oriented process within an organization, which specifies what it wishes to become and how it proposes to get there. In a printing press one has to ask, “Where are we now” and “Where we want to go”. Parameters may include no. of clients, variety of jobs, no. of jobs, type of printing, type of machines, investment mode, etc. When should SP be done? Now it should be done. Who should do it? Mostly senior managers. They should inform the stakeholders. Who are the stakeholders? They are internal and external. Internal are again bottom up or top down model. Bottom up are all staff and customers. Top down are senior managers. The impact of development will that all stakeholders will proactively anticipate change and ensure all in bottom up optimize, initiate its resources and maximize production.

Steps in strategic planning

Eight steps are involved in strategic planning, which include initiating SP process; clarifying mandate; developing vision and mission statements; conducting SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis; identifying thrust areas; formulating goals; specifying objectives; and developing work and action plans.

FRPM strategic planning to strategic management

The steps involve preparation of a SP, dissemination of it to all stakeholders, implementation of SP, monitoring SP, evaluation of results, revising SP, institutionalising strategic management process. Guidelines for effective functioning of Strategic Management Group (SMG) should be formulated. By monitoring, structured meetings and recording and reporting, SP should be sustained.

–D Ramalingam