“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would
spend the first 55 minutes determining
the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I
could solve the problem in less than
five minutes.”
GETTING STARTED: IDENTIFYING ISSUES FACING THE ORGANIZATION
• HOW TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIC ISSUES
• KEY ISSUES/CHALENGES IN PANELCO III
• POSSIBLE WAYS TO RESOLVE THE STRATEGIC ISSUES
IDENTIFYING THE STRATEGIC ISSUES
FACING THE ORGANIZATION
This step defines and
describes the issues at hand
succinctly, pinpoints the
factors that make a certain
issue a fundamental challenge.
IDENTIFYING THE STRATEGIC ISSUES
FACING THE ORGANIZATION
• In Bryson’s Strategic Planning Process, this phase will allow the organization to determine a list of issues they face, divide that list into categories of strategic or operational and finally, arrange these issues in order, such as priority, logical or temporal. (Bryson, 2004)
IDENTIFYING THE STRATEGIC ISSUES
FACING THE ORGANIZATION
• Identifying the strategic issues will help the stakeholders determine what is most important to an organization and will help them formulate strategies to address these issues.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISSUE AND
PROBLEM?
Some business managers mistakenly use the
term “issue” and “problem” interchangeably;
however, doing so may complicate the daily
decision making processes by lumping all issues
and problems together and possibly make a bad
situation worse. Separating issues from
problems helps to prevent smaller issues from
becoming problems. This business practice is so
important that there is an entire management
discipline predictably called, “issue management”
(IM). http://www.studymode.com/essays/Issues-Vs-Problems-648552.html
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISSUE AND
PROBLEM?
The Dow Jones says that “successful issue management depends
on addressing concerns before they become full blown problems.”
1. Therefore, it is deduced that issues are smaller, less threatening
and require minimal effort to find resolution – but left unchecked
could expose the organization to greater risk. There is an analogy
to help put this concept into proper perspective – “forgetting your
lunch is an issue, but losing your job is a problem.
2. Therefore, the difference between an Issue and a problem can be
explained this way, “Problems are solved. Issues need to be
resolved…. To solve is to explain and to resolve is to
separate a thing into its component parts or
elements, then determine a course of action.” (Jaques
2007. P 36, 37)
HOW TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIC ISSUES
1. Brainstorm Potential Strategic Issues
Review vision, company values, opportunities, strengths as well as threats.
Frame issues in the form of questions
2. Develop an Understanding Why an Issue is Strategic
Discuss each identified issue
Determine which issues are critical or strategic
Test for strategic quality of an issue.
TEST FOR STRATEGIC QUALITY OF AN
ISSUE
Does It:
• Pose a threat?
• Present an opportunity?
• Require significant change?
• Involve conflict/tension between choices?
• Tend to be complex?
• Generally project well into the future?
3. Determine the consequences of not addressing an issue: • Each strategic issue will generally fall
into the following categories: a) No action is currently required, but
the issue should be monitored for future action
b) Action can be determined through strategic planning process.
c) The issue appears urgent and requires an important response.
Failure to address the identified strategic issues eventually results in the realization of an external threat, lost opportunity, the lingering or worsening of an identified problem and ultimately a failure to achieve the corporate vision.
4. Consolidate overlapping or related issues: Combine related issues Determine how are they
related The fewer the issues, the
better.
5. Arrange issues into an ordered list: Three ways:
a) Logical order b) Impact order c) Temporal order
ABSTRACT:
The soul of Strategic Planning is to identify the Strategic Issues Facing the
Organization.
How?
- Brainstorming (Strengths and Weaknesses)
- Understanding its importance and relevance (Urgency)
- Know its consequences (Pros and Cons)
- Consolidate concerns (Arrange in an ordered list)
- Address the issue
KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES
1) ISSUES FACING THE COOPERATIVE:
• Deregulation of Power Industry
• Passage of R.A. 10531, otherwise known as “An Act strengthening the NEA, further amending for the purpose of P.D. 269, as amended”
• Rampant pilferage/illegal connection
• Increasing Account Receivables
• Exposure from local politics
• Numerous reportorial requirements by the government agencies
KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES
2) ISSUES FACING THE MANAGEMENT/HEAD OFFICE:
• Clamors against the implementation of the Reorganization
• Employees Union Advocacies
• Subdued Interpersonal relationship among heads and associates
• Controversies as to the duties and functions of the BOD’s and the Management
• Partial implementation of policies
• Technological Advancement is not one of the priorities
KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES
3) ISSUES FACING THE AREA OFFICES/SUB-OFFICES: • Weak customer relations • Diverse interpretation of policies
and/or other rules and regulations of the cooperative
• Presence of language barrier
Environmental Analysis Issues Problem
1. Deregulation of Power Industry
2. Passage of R.A. 10531, otherwise known as “An Act strengthening the NEA, further amending for the purpose of P.D. 269, as amended”
3.Rampant pilferage/illegal connection
4. Increasing Account Receivables
5. Numerous reportorial requirements by the government agencies
Environmental Analysis Issues Problems
6. Clamors against the implementation of the Reorganization
7. Employees Union Advocacies
8. Subdued Interpersonal relationship among heads and associates
9. Controversies as to the duties and functions of the BOD’s and the Management
1o. Partial implementation of policies
11. Technological Advancement is not one of the priorities
Environmental Analysis Issues Problems
12. Weak customer relations
13. Diverse interpretation of policies and/or other rules and regulations of the cooperative
14. Presence of language barrier 15. System lost too high (14%)
16. Violation of the BOD Term of office
17. Too much Board meetings
Note: 15, 16, 17 lifted from CDA Findings during the inspection
Environmental Analysis Task
Environment
Societal
Environment
1. Deregulation of Power Industry
2. Passage of R.A. 10531, otherwise known as “An Act strengthening the NEA, further amending for the purpose of P.D. 269, as amended”
3.Rampant pilferage/illegal connection
4. Increasing Account Receivables
5. Numerous reportorial requirements by the government agencies
Environmental Analysis Task
Environment
Societal
Environment
6. Clamors against the implementation of the Reorganization
7. Employees Union Advocacies
8. Subdued Interpersonal relationship among heads and associates
9. Controversies as to the duties and functions of the BOD’s and the Management
1o. Partial implementation of policies
11. Technological Advancement is not one of the priorities
Environmental Analysis Task
Environment
Societal
Environment
12. Weak customer relations
13. Diverse interpretation of policies and/or other rules and regulations of the cooperative
14. Presence of language barrier 15. System lost too high (14%)
16. Violation of the BOD Term of office
17. Too much Board meetings
Note: 15, 16, 17 lifted from CDA Findings during the inspection
Task Environment Ranking
1. Rampant pilferage/illegal connection
2.. Increasing Account Receivables
3. Numerous reportorial requirements by the government agencies
4. Clamors against the implementation of the Reorganization
5. Employees Union Advocacies
6. Subdued Interpersonal relationship among heads and associates
7. Controversies as to the duties and functions of the BOD’s and the Management
8. Partial implementation of policies
9. Technological Advancement is not one of the priorities
10. Weak customer relations
Task Environment Ranking
11 . Diverse interpretation of policies and/or other rules and regulations of the cooperative
12. Presence of language barrier 13. System lost too high (14%)
14. Violation of the BOD Term of office
15. Too much Board meetings
Rank the order of importance from 1-15 - most
important to less important
Society Environment Ranking
1. Deregulation of Power Industry
2. Passage of R.A. 10531, otherwise known as “An Act strengthening the NEA, further amending for the purpose of P.D. 269, as amended”
HOW TO ADDRESS STRATEGIC ISSUES?
Areas to look at: I. Achievements and Failures (Net Profit, Staff
Retention, Gained Market/Lost Clients, Low Sales, Low Efficiency)
II. Profitable Products and Services III. Financial Ratios (Key Ratios, Benchmarks, Targets) IV. External Forces (PEST) – by Elsa Richards (EL)
Profitable Products and Services Illustration
Company A
Company B
Company C
Gross Sales
125M
275M
75M
Expenses
50M
280M
10M
Gross Profit
75M
-5M
65M
WHERE DO YOU BELONG?
There are 3 kinds of people
1) those who make things happen;
2) those who watch things happen; and
3) those who wonder what happened.
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