Creating a Flexible Strategic Planning Framework

Open Invitation to Join the DVMS Institute new blog on Holistic and Adaptive Governance, Resilience and Assurance Kick Off Group Blog: https://lnkd.in/ggfwPQKY Traditional GRC often operates within a rigid, rule-based structure. It emphasizes adherence to predefined policies and procedures, focusing on retrospective analysis and reactive responses to identified risks. While this approach is valuable for maintaining a compliance baseline, it struggles to keep pace with the velocity and complexity of contemporary challenges. The modern digital business environment is characterized by constant change, which demands a governance framework that can evolve in real-time. Adaptable Governance, in contrast, prioritizes flexibility and agility. It recognizes that static policies and procedures can quickly become obsolete in the face of emerging threats and opportunities. This approach emphasizes the importance of: - Dynamic Risk Assessment: Moving beyond static risk registers to continuous monitoring and analysis, leveraging data analytics and AI to identify emerging threats and trends. - Flexible Policy Frameworks: Policies should be designed to be adaptable to changing circumstances, allowing for rapid adjustments and updates as needed. - Decentralized Decision-Making: Empowering individuals and teams at all levels of the organization to make informed decisions, fostering a culture of ownership and accountability. Resilience, perhaps the most critical component of this new paradigm, focuses on an organizational ability to withstand and recover from disruptions. This goes beyond traditional business continuity planning to encompass: - Anticipatory Resilience: Building capabilities to anticipate and prepare for potential disruptions rather than simply reacting to them. - Adaptive Resilience: Developing the capacity to adapt and evolve in response to changing circumstances, leveraging innovation and creativity to overcome challenges. - Systemic Resilience Involves Recognising the interconnectedness of organizational systems and building resilience at all levels, from individual employees to the entire enterprise. Assurance, within this evolved framework, transcends traditional audit and compliance checks. It becomes an ongoing process of validating the effectiveness of governance mechanisms and risk mitigation strategies. This involves: - Continuous Monitoring and Testing: Implementing real-time monitoring systems to track key performance indicators and identify potential deviations from established standards. - Proactive Assurance: Shifting from retrospective audits to forward-looking assessments that anticipate potential vulnerabilities and provide early warnings. - Integrated Assurance: Breaking down silos between different assurance functions (e.g., internal audit, risk management, compliance) to create a holistic view of organizational performance and risk.

#BadassBookAlert: The Emergent Approach to Strategy by Peter Compo Peter Compo’s The Emergent Approach to Strategy takes a refreshing and pragmatic stance against traditional, rigid strategic planning models. Drawing from systems thinking, Compo challenges the classic linear approach to strategy—where companies define a fixed destination and march toward it, arguing instead for an adaptive, emergent strategy that evolves through continuous learning, iteration, and real-world feedback. At the heart of Compo’s argument is the principle of “strategic learning”, a concept inspired by biology, complexity science, and modern innovation methodologies like Lean and Agile. He asserts that the world is too unpredictable for rigid long-term planning, and organizations should instead operate with flexible guardrails that enable them to respond dynamically to change. This perspective aligns well with contemporary service design, product management, and organizational strategy, making it especially relevant for industries facing high uncertainty, like healthcare and technology. Compo introduces the Adaptive Loop, a cycle of observing, learning, and adjusting, which mirrors concepts like Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) principles from LEAN Six Sigma. He emphasizes "strategic constraints", rules that guide decision-making while allowing for adaptability, similar to Amazon’s “disagree and commit” principle or Google's OKRs. I really loved this book and what sets it apart is the blend of academic rigor and practical application. Compo draws from real-world examples across industries, offering frameworks that can be applied immediately. However, some readers may find his writing style a bit dense at times, as the book covers a broad range of disciplines, from evolutionary theory to corporate case studies. Who Should Read This? ✅ Business strategists, product managers, and organizational designers looking for a more flexible approach to planning. ✅ Leaders in rapidly changing industries who need to balance structure with adaptability. ✅ Service designers and UX professionals interested in applying emergent strategy to customer experience and innovation. Compo delivers a compelling case for adaptive strategy, making this book a must-read for those frustrated with outdated, rigid strategic models. If you believe in continuous iteration over fixed plans, this book will resonate deeply. While it occasionally leans into complexity, the payoff is a powerful, actionable framework for navigating an unpredictable world. #Strategy #BusinessDesign #ServiceDesign #LEAN6Sigma

Annual planning cycles are like using a typewriter in the age of smartphones - outdated and inefficient. While markets evolve at breakneck speed and customer needs shift like quicksand, many businesses still cling to rigid yearly plans that can't keep pace. This mismatch between static planning and dynamic realities often leaves organizations lagging behind, struggling to innovate, and missing critical opportunities. It's time for a change. Imagine a product team excitedly launching a new feature, only to realize three months later that the market has shifted, rendering their carefully planned innovation less relevant. Or picture a marketing department stuck with an outdated campaign because the annual plan didn't account for a sudden change in consumer behavior. These scenarios play out in businesses every day, highlighting the limitations of traditional planning cycles. Continuous strategy deployment offers an alternative approach. Unlike traditional annual planning, it allows for real-time adjustments based on current data and market conditions. While we still hold true to long term visions, being able to change tactics as feedback is obtained enables organizations to adapt their strategies quickly, ensuring they remain aligned with evolving business goals and market dynamics. Product Ops governance plays a crucial role in this process. By establishing clear processes, roles, and responsibilities, it ensures all teams are aligned and working towards common objectives. This framework fosters cross-functional communication and breaks down silos, facilitating more efficient decision-making. Consider a company that adopts this approach. Their product team can now pivot quickly when user feedback suggests an unexpected use case for their software. The marketing team can adjust messaging in real-time based on performance data. Leadership can reallocate resources more fluidly as new opportunities arise. The potential benefits of this approach include: 1. Maintaining relevant strategies in rapidly changing markets 2. Improved alignment and communication across teams 3. A culture of continuous improvement and adaptability Moving from annual planning to continuous strategy deployment represents a significant shift in how organizations approach their strategic processes. It requires careful consideration and often, substantial changes to existing structures and practices. What challenges have you encountered with traditional annual planning? How do you think a more continuous approach to strategy could impact your organization? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.