Service Description
Strategic Planning for Process Improvement
Successful process improvement requires a well-thought-out plan that takes into account both deficiencies in the current process and the evolving needs of the business. Strategic planning is the catalyst for setting direction and helps ensure that process improvement becomes a reality. Our unique workshop-based planning methodology helps organizations make the hard choices and provides a structured approach for planning orderly, cost-effective process improvement.
When should strategic planning begin?
Strategic planning is most successful when initiated soon after an organization has performed a SCAMPI or Baseline appraisal — while insight is fresh and momentum is high. The appraisal findings and recommendations provide a solid starting point for the planning effort.
What can you expect?
After an experienced Process Strategies Lead Appraiser has led your team through the strategic planning process, you will have:
- A set of fully evaluated and ranked process improvement proposals. Each proposal describes the proposed improvement, its relationship to the needs of the organization and to the other proposed improvements, expected benefits, risks, resources required, and the major implementation tasks.
- A high-level process plan that is commensurate with the organization’s business objectives. The plan includes estimates of overall costs and resources, an initial schedule for the proposed improvement projects, the improvement program structure, key responsibilities, training activities, measures to be used, and required management oversight activities.
What does strategic planning involve?
From the earliest days of CMM and CMMI-based process improvement, Process Strategies has been at the forefront in helping organizations make the right strategic choices regarding process improvement. Our structured, consensus-based planning approach permits organizations to establish sound plans in the shortest time-frame possible. Key attributes of our method include:
- Planning is performed by a team of EPG members, managers, and other process stakeholders during a series of workshops led by a Process Strategies consultant.
- In the first workshop, the team meets with senior managers to identify the business objectives and other organizational factors relevant to the organization’s development capabilities. The team also prepares a consolidated list of needed improvements.
- Between subsequent workshops, individual team members research potential solutions, and prepare proposals for potential improvement projects.
- The team critically reviews the proposals and evaluates them against defined criteria such as business alignment, CMMI alignment, risk, and benefits. Low ranking proposals are eliminated from further consideration.
- Based on evaluation results, a draft plan is prepared and presented to senior management for review and approval.