The recession has been cited for everything from the lack of investment income in the budget to rationale for failed strategies and action plans. The influx of MBA’s in a multitude of industries has resulted in the annual CEO strategic planning retreat, the Board strategy planning memos, and a myriad of pyramids, icebergs, rectangles, and arrows creating charts that are top down, bottom up, vertically integrated, and circular. A recent posting on Future Tends asked if the recession was moving organizational leaders away from planning processes to bottom line management. In response and all appropriate apologies to David Letterman (I know his Indianapolis-based attorney); here is a Top 10 list of responses related to the question: “Are our annual goals aligned properly with mission, vision, values, goals and strategies?”
10. We had a great retreat to do our mission and vision — the food was awesome!
9. Strategic planning — yea we did that when the new guy showed up.
8. The mission and vision statements — in the frame on the wall….and if you take a look at it would you please dust it off!
7. We definitely have a vision — we are very proud of our entire benefit structure of health, dental and vision.
6. The CEO handles all strategy questions.
5. Let me check….yes – mission, vision, strategies is poster of the month in September. This month is diversity.
4. Manager: Don’t bother me with all those things — I have a budget to hit by the end of the quarter. My vision is keeping my job and making the big shots who write that *%$#^&*( happy.
3. Vice President of the business: We definitely have that on our agenda during the second quarter after the new CEO arrives. And then when he is alone: “Note to self, county how long the current mission statement is because we can’t afford to buy new frames.
2. Former President of the business unit: But we had consensus at the retreat that this was the right direction for us! What the hell happened?
and the #1 statement most often heard…
1. President of the business: What do you mean align our action plan with the mission, vision, strategy and values? I swear, this is the last time we put MBA as a requirement.
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