Course on Institutional Strategic Planning and How to Write a Strategic Plan

In an increasingly complex and fast-paced environment, institutions can no longer rely on reactive or fragmented planning. Strategic institutional planning is the cornerstone of sustainable success, guiding organizations toward their long-term vision with clarity, structure, and focus. A well-written strategic plan aligns internal capabilities with external challenges, ensuring that goals are not only defined but also achievable.
Geneva Institute of Business Administration proudly presents the course “Institutional Strategic Planning and How to Write a Strategic Plan”, designed to empower professionals to build, write, and manage actionable strategic plans grounded in practical methodologies and sound organizational analysis.

Target Group

• General managers and executives responsible for strategic direction.

• Planning and development officers in public and private sector institutions.

• Heads of departments and units involved in policy implementation.

• Quality and institutional excellence officers seeking strategic integration.

• Management consultants and organizational planning specialists.

• Decision-makers aiming to develop measurable and realistic strategic plans.

Objectives

• Equip participants with the foundations and principles of institutional strategic planning.

• Enhance their ability to conduct in-depth internal and external analyses.

• Enable them to write clear and consistent vision, mission, and value statements.

• Guide them in setting strategic goals and translating them into practical initiatives.

• Train them to structure a professional and coherent strategic plan document.

• Introduce them to implementation steps and performance monitoring processes.

• Strengthen their ability to design accurate performance measurement tools.

• Support their capacity to review, update, and report on strategic progress.

Course Outline 

• Introduction to Institutional Strategic Planning

  • Definition and key components of strategic planning.

  • Distinction between strategic, operational, and tactical planning.

  • The importance of long-term planning in a dynamic environment.

  • Stages of the strategic planning cycle within institutions.

• Institutional Environment Analysis

  • Evaluating internal capabilities and available resources.

  • Assessing external factors affecting performance.

  • Applying tools such as SWOT and PESTEL for analysis.

  • Converting analytical results into strategic insights.

• Crafting Vision, Mission, and Values

  • Standards for writing a compelling and achievable vision.

  • Defining the institutional mission and its guiding role.

  • Selecting core values that reflect institutional identity.

  • Aligning vision, mission, and values with strategic priorities.

• Setting Strategic Objectives

  • Features of effective goals using the SMART model.

  • Prioritizing objectives across strategic pillars.

  • Translating general ambitions into measurable outcomes.

  • Linking objectives with internal capabilities and external realities.

• Designing Strategic Initiatives and Programs

  • The role of initiatives in strategic implementation.

  • Selecting initiatives based on gap analysis.

  • Sequencing initiatives within a defined timeframe.

  • Assigning responsible teams and supporting departments.

• Defining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • Understanding the role of indicators in performance tracking.

  • Criteria for selecting meaningful and reliable KPIs.

  • Categorizing KPIs according to strategic domains.

  • Techniques for measuring and interpreting results.

• Structuring the Strategic Plan Document

  • Components of a professional strategic plan.

  • Organizing content in a coherent and actionable format.

  • Clearly documenting goals, initiatives, and resources.

  • Creating a user-friendly and implementation-ready version.

• Implementation and Follow-up Plan

  • Turning strategy into daily departmental action plans.

  • Distributing roles and defining implementation responsibilities.

  • Developing a clear timeline for strategic execution.

  • Mechanisms for monitoring performance and progress.

• Reviewing and Updating the Strategic Plan

  • Identifying when and how a plan needs to be reviewed.

  • Steps to revise goals and adapt to change.

  • Connecting environmental shifts with plan adjustments.

  • Issuing updates and reallocating responsibilities.

• Strategic Performance Reporting Skills

  • Essential elements of a high-quality performance report.

  • Presenting results using tables and visual tools.

  • Interpreting data to highlight strengths and challenges.

  • Offering evidence-based recommendations for improvement.