- What is strategy implementation?
- Difficulties in strategy implementation
- How strategy implementation works
- Our special Timmermann contribution to strategy implementation
1. What is strategy implementation?
We envision strategy as a collection of targeted initiatives designed to fulfill objectives that collectively bring a company's vision to life. The act of putting this collection into action defines what we mean by strategy implementation.
Frequently, the strategies devised fail to meet the expectations of their creators. It's often believed that the organizational helm should be the source of strategic vision, with the strategies themselves requiring simple execution by managers and staff. Yet, the ground realities diverge sharply from this notion. Even meticulously crafted strategy implementation plans fall short of delivering the anticipated outcomes.
2. Difficulties in strategy implementation
Simply having written documents and attending explanatory lectures may not be enough for managers and employees to fully embrace and implement a strategy. They often struggle with finding the time, energy, motivation, or ability to turn the strategy's abstract ideas into practical, everyday tasks without strong support for change.
Implementing a new strategy demands a significant cognitive and emotional investment in incorporating it into daily decision-making processes. For individuals well-versed in the strategy, this can be puzzling. Their "expert bias" may hinder their ability to grasp the challenges and find solutions.
Furthermore, it is often during the implementation phase of the strategy that areas needing further attention become evident. It is common to encounter unresolved issues that may hinder progress. Without planned iteration loops in place, unexpected challenges can disrupt the strategy implementation process. This highlights the importance of adopting an agile approach not only during strategy development but also throughout implementation. As a strategy is a dynamic process, it is crucial to continuously incorporate new insights for its ongoing evolution. Timmermann's approach involves guiding strategy processes with consultants who bring valuable agile expertise to the table.
3.How strategy implementation works
Successful strategy implementation projects that we have been a part of have always embraced two fundamental principles:
- Consider the change process of strategy implementation right from the start and tailor the strategy development process accordingly
- Provide executives and employees with essential support across all 4 change levers
Of course, it's important to involve top management in developing the strategy's main features. However, to ensure that key strategy implementers, such as middle management, truly support it, they should also be engaged in the thought process early on. For instance, they should explore alternatives, understand different perspectives, and do so before the strategy is polished and ready for presentation. This lays the foundation for taking ownership in implementation, addressing a common concern raised by many top executives. Moreover, encouraging broader participation can enhance the quality of decisions and strategies.
4. Our special Timmermann contribution to strategy implementation
Working closely with our clients, we not only craft the strategy implementation process once the strategy is in place, but we also provide expertise in top management strategy consulting. We delve into both the tangible and intangible aspects of strategy development, conducting thorough analyses, facilitating clear storylining, and fostering creativity. Our goal is to create a strategy that is not only easy to understand but also truly embraced in everyday practices through agile implementation methods and our change management expertise.
