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ToP Strategic Planning is recognized worldwide by thousands of organizations. It enables groups to systematically and quickly addresses key issues and results in a focused plan. You get innovative strategies and people leave the planning sessions ready to implement the action plans. It is a highly effective strategic thinking process that contains 4 basic steps.

• Create a shared practical vision
• Identify the underlying obstacles
• Form new strategic directions
• Develo practical action plans

ToP Strategic Planning Process

ICA's approach enables a group to think strategically. It is highly participatory and builds consensus It assumes that everyone has a piece of the puzzle; every person involved can make a valuable contribution.

This process focuses directly on the strategic thinking part of any overall strategy planning exercise. It, obviously, does not start from scratch. The group or organization will likely have stated its mission, purpose long term objectives and its values. The group will have history and experience to build upon. It will have strengths it can utilize and opportunities it can seize. It will have weaknesses and it will face risks. The organization will operate within a wider environment that needs to be taken into consideration

This process assumes that those people who have to implement the plan are participating in the planning. Top-down planning does not work very well, as has been shown time and time again, because it does not engage those who need to make the real commitment to implementation.

At the same time, strategy planning must be supported by the leadership of the organization. Those in leadership roles need to be involved in the strategic thinking; so they can contribute from that perspective and will not feel threatened by broad based participation.