STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE WAY FORWARD – REFLECTIONS ON

TURBULENCE AND VISION 2020

By TREVOR M.A.FARRELL

AFROSIBER –LESSONS OF METHODOLOGY AND PROCESS

SITUATION AUDIT /ENVIRONMENT SCANFORECASTINGRESOURCE EVALUATIONOBJECTIVESSTRATEGYIMPLICATIONS OF STRATEGY (PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN)BALANCESEXECUTIONREVIEW, MONITOR,ADJUST

AFROSIBER –LESSONS OF METHODOLOGY AND PROCESS

THE PHASES OF PLANNING

DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSISCEREBRATIONDECISION-MAKINGCOMMUNICATIONORGANIZATIONMANAGEMENT

STRATEGIC PLANNING FAILS FOR MANY REASONS – BUT CHIEF AMONG THESE ARE FAILURES RELATED TO CEREBRATION AND EXECUTION (RELATED IN TURN TO ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP)

ENVIRONMENT SCANNING AND TURBULENCE

• ENVIRONMENT IS ALWAYS “TURBULENT” AS MINTZBERG POINTS OUT. THE KEY LIES IN CEREBRATION, ANTICIPATION , RESPONSE AND PHILOSOPHY

• WHAT HAS REALLY IMPACTED STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN MANY AREAS IN THE REGION AND BEYOND IS IN THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBALIZATION ON INFORMATION & KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

PROPHYLAXIS??

LESS FORECASTING; MORE PROJECTIONS; MORE SCENARIOSMORE DECISION-MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY AND RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS

“PHILOSOPHY”:DETERMINE IN ADVANCE WHAT YOU WILL NEVER DO, WHERE YOU WILL NEVER GO; WHAT LIMITS YOU WILL NEVER BREACH – BECAUSE OF YOUR INHERENT LIMITATIONS

PHILOSOPHY II – LEVERAGING “ALL WEATHER” STRATEGIES A LA WARREN BUFFET. SCOTIABANK

DIVERSIFICATION: BUT THIS CAN BE A TWO EDGED SWORD: TECHNICALLY, IT REQUIRES NEGATIVE CORRELATIONS, AND KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS CAN BE SIGNIFICANT

PROBLEM AFFECTS MANY CARIBBBEAN COUNTRIES AND COMPANIES, INCLUDING GUARDIAN, CL FINANCIAL, SAGICOR, GRACE KENNEDY. CARIBBEAN AIRLINES.N&M

STRATEGIC PLANNING IN T&T:VISION 20-20

OBJECTIVE: T&T A FIRST WORLD COUNTRY BY 2020

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR FIRST WORLD / ADVANCED COUNTRY STATUS?

KEY DIMENSIONS OF FIRST WORLD STATUS INCLUDE:

1. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT2. TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES3. INNOVATION4. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVEMESS5. ECONOMIC DIVERDIFICATION &/or

ADVANCED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS w PRODUCTION PLATFORM / PRODUCTIVE FLEXIBILITY

6. ORGANIZATION, SYSTEMS7. INFRASTRUCTURE8. SOCIAL WELFARE9. QUALITY OF INSTITITIONS10. WEALTH

VISION 20-20 – FAILURES OF METHODOLOGY AND PROCESS

• KEY OBJECTIVE UNREALISTIC – FAILURE RE RESOURCE EVALUATION (AFROSIBER STEP #3)

• SOME GOOD CEREBRATION AT LEVEL OF THE TEAMS SET UP. HOWEVER,OVERARCHINH CEREBRATION NOT DISTINGUISGED

• MACHINERY FOR IMPLEMENTATION WEAK /NON-EXISTENT

• COMMUNICATION WEAK / INEFFECTIVE – WHO IS MOTIVATED BY VISION 20-20??

THE WAY FORWARD – SOME CRITICAL NEEDS

WE NEED TO TRAIN AN ELITE:THIS REQUIRES INTER ALIA:• UNIVERSITY REFORM, INCLUDING REFORM OF THE OVERALL CURRICULUM•A CIVIL SERVICE ACADEMY FOR THOSE WHO WILL GO BEYOND RANGE 60•A POLICE SERVICE ACADEMY FOR SUPERINTENDENTS AND UP

IN THE ABSENCE OF OPPOSITION COOPERATION, A REFORM OF THE SERIVCE COMMISSIONS FOCUSING ON PERSONNEL CHANGES AND THE SETTING UP OF A TASK FORCE TO DO A ROOT AND BRANCH REF0RM OF CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS AND CENTRAL TENDER BOARD RULES AND OPERATIONS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SERIOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM – INVOLVING GOVERNMENT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE UNIVERSITIES AIMED AT PRODUCING HIGH LEVEL ENTREPRENEURS (NOTHING IN EXISTENCE NOW MEETS THE CRITERIA) THIS WILL BEAR FRUIT STARTING 10-15 YEARS AFTER START UP

WE NEED A SERIOUS PROGRAM TO REBUILD THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY. AND AS PART OF THIS A SERIES OF BOYSTOMEN PROGRANS IN THE URBAN AREAS