What is involved in strategic operations planning?

Strategic operations planning involves setting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilising resources to execute the actions.

Strategic operations planning is a critical process in any organisation, whether it's a small business or a multinational corporation. It's about setting long-term goals and determining the best way to achieve them. This involves analysing the company's current situation, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and understanding the opportunities and threats in the market.

The first step in strategic operations planning is setting the goals. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). The goals should align with the company's mission and vision, and they should help the company move towards its desired future state.

Once the goals are set, the next step is to determine the actions needed to achieve these goals. This involves developing strategies and tactics. Strategies are broad approaches to achieving the goals, while tactics are specific actions that implement the strategies. For example, if a company's goal is to increase its market share, a strategy might be to launch new products, and a tactic might be to conduct a marketing campaign for the new products.

The final step in strategic operations planning is mobilising the resources to execute the actions. This involves allocating the necessary financial, human, and physical resources. It also involves setting up systems and processes to monitor the execution of the actions and to measure the progress towards the goals.

In summary, strategic operations planning is a systematic process that involves setting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilising resources to execute the actions. It requires a deep understanding of the company's current situation and future aspirations, as well as the ability to make informed decisions and to manage resources effectively.