Planning September 2010 In this issue: A Complete Planning Approach Succession Planning:  Do You Really Need It? Success-ion The Strategic Planning Process: Myth or Necessary Evil? Internal Communications: Planning the Plan
Follow OI Partners on Twitter! @OIPartnersInc	All organizations are involved in planning - strategic, workforce, succession planning etc.  In fact, the VP of Corporate Planning at a Fortune 100 company once told me, "we have a new plan every day.....because we have new information."  Certainly in this business environment, planning is an even greater challenge.  But it is perhaps a much more critical part of your business than ever before because of the economic challenges.  Prior to the business downturn, many organizations were concerned about how to meet the workforce planning challenges facing them to ensure that the right people resources were in place to carry out the business' strategic plan.  This month's newsletter focuses on different aspects of planning that will be helpful to you in moving your organization forward. Sincerely, Lateyfa Ali OI Partners - E. K. Ward & Associates (Buffalo, NY) A Complete Planning Approach Employee issues are often neglected during the strategic planning process.  The temptation is to focus on funding, marketing, facilities, security and operations. But as discussed here, the strength of the organization's people will determine how well challenges are met. Succession Planning: Do You Really Need It? Research shows employers are at a greater risk for losing good workers as the economy begins to add jobs at a modest pace. Whether a company is large or small, these guidelines can help build a succession plan into an overall strategic plan, a critical step in stability and survival. Success-ion As the economic crisis shifts, high-potential employees' options for movement begin to emerge. Now is the time for organizations to take a second look at their success-ion philosophy, strategy and plans to remain relevant and responsive. The following may assist in optimizing a succession planning investment. The Strategic Planning Process: Myth or Necessary Evil? Although the task may sound daunting, strategic planning is rather simple. It does, however, require a huge amount of data and market intelligence to reap great rewards.  Here we provide an example of a successful planning model. Internal Communications: Planning the Plan Many companies focus on communicating to their external audiences. The same focus should be considered when creating an internal communications plan that addresses organizational issues. Here are four key questions to answer when building an internal communications plan.

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