Well, it's that time of year...the days are getting shorter, nights are getting colder and Mariner crowds are getting smaller.  It must be Strategic Planning season in the Pacific Northwest!
 
Done well, strategic planning can be energizing and hopeful for those involved, and when communicated and executed well can tightly align and focus a company top to bottom.
 
Done poorly, strategic planning will leave participants scratching their heads and feeling as if they just spent three days locked in a conference room playing musical chairs...with three extra chairs.
 
In honor of the season, here are my top 4 strategic planning errors companies make...each paired with a memorable (painful for a few of us!) error in baseball history.

 
The Bill Buckner: Strategic planning in parallel mode.  This occurs when all business units in a company perform strategic planning at the same time.  As a CIO, this always felt odd to me...how could IT create a strategic plan at the same time all other business areas were creating theirs?  I needed to first know where they were headed, then we could set IT strategy.  The Lesson: There is an order to strategic planning.  Get the ball first, then you can tag first base.
 
The Rick Ankiel (as a pitcher): Don't forget about the basics...follow through and execution.  Business goals/objectives should cascade into strategic initiatives, programs and then projects.  When executed well, strategic projects enable achievement of programs, which enable achievement of initiatives, which enable achievement of strategic goals and objectives (and move you closer to your vision).  The Lesson: If you can't execute the basics, i.e. follow-through and throw strikes, you can't win the game.
 
The Fred Merkle:  Strategic planning isn't just a single annual event, it's an ongoing process.  Review your plan monthly or quarterly to assess progress and make adjustments where necessary.  The Lesson: Don't assume it's over when the plan is on the shelf, it could cost you the game...and eventually the pennant.
 
The Jose Conseco: Vision is vital.  Have a vision for what you want to achieve.  Then use strategic planning to define and build the path to that vision.  The Lesson: Don't just use your head, use your eyes too.  See the ball, have a clear vision of what you are looking to achieve.

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I hope your season of strategic planning turns out better than these stories did, and better than the Mariners' season.  I think the best thing we can say about their season is...

 

..."Go Seahawks!"