SIRXSRM805 - Lead the strategic planning process in a service environment
Assessor Resource
SIRXSRM805 Lead the strategic planning process in a service environment
Assessment tool
Version 1.0 Issue Date: April 2024
This unit of competency supports the needs of senior managers and business owners with significant responsibility for setting the strategic direction of a service organisation.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to lead the development of high-level strategic plans for a retail organisation. This entails the analysis of the environment, identification of risks and opportunities, and specification of strategic directions that serve the vision and mission of the organisation. Establishing financial and non-financial performance indicators and monitoring them are critical to success.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)
Prerequisites
Nil
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
researches and analyses to identify industry trends and organisational requirements
demonstrates communication and management skills to design and drive a strategic planning process
develops a strategic plan that reflects organisational needs, positions the organisation for success, and is underpinned by sound financial and other analysis
harnesses resources and staff commitment to ensure implementation of the detailed tactics required for business success.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
a retail work environment
current range of text and online information sources on industry intelligence, best practice and trends within the retail industry
previous strategic and business plans
retail managers and staff across the organisation.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of performance in the workplace
a role play
answers to questions about specific skills and knowledge
review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
Submission Requirements
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Required skills
analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate business strengths and weaknesses
communication and interpersonal skills to:
consult with:
business owners and senior staff to establish planning process parameters
stakeholders to identify issues and expectations affecting the organisation’s operations
experts and staff to review the organisation’s brand management strategy and position within the marketplace
gain staff and stakeholder commitment and feedback during the implementation process
negotiate to:
allocate human and other resources to develop and implement the plan
determine planning timelines
seek staff input to identify organisation’s vision, mission, values and major goals
planning skills to:
analyse the operational environment
develop business goals
develop operational plans
initiative and enterprise skills to develop organisational vision and mission
time-management skills to plan and prioritise work
Required knowledge
budgeting and financial management practices
concepts and models of strategic planning processes, including:
environmental analysis
SWOT
establishing a vision and mission
goal setting
activity setting
establishing key performance indicators and measures
industry trends, including changes to technology and customer preferences
organisational resource requirements to undertake large and complex projects
practices and procedures for financial management
risk management processes
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the individual, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Parametersmay include:
budget
timeframe.
Best practices and trendsmay include:
emerging or changed use of technologies, including:
e-retailing
radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs)
self-service checkouts
social networking media as a marketing and sales channel
company structures, including trends towards:
changed ownerships
merged or diversified organisations
multi-service organisations
new or changing levels and ranges of services and products, including:
blurring of product categories (e.g. bookshops with cafes)
brand extension
customisation of products and services
generationally targeted products (e.g. for the over 50s)
polarisation of cost of goods (focus on high end and discount).
Industry intelligencemay include:
data available from industry associations
information gained through industry networks
market research, including mystery shopping
published reports on industry composition
search of publicly available annual reports for listed companies
search of publicly available business records.
Risks may include:
access to skilled workforce
change to regulatory or licensing environment
changing customer behaviours and requirements
cyclical changes within the industry or region
difficulty in accessing funds
emergence of new technologies
ill health of principal or key staff
legal proceedings
reliability of suppliers
strength of existing or new competitors
tightened economic environment.
Resource levels may include:
consultant costs
cost of floor space
cost of new or changed security systems
cost of stock
funding of business expansion
human resources
infrastructure
new marketing effort and costs.
Operationalplans that provide tactical implementation of the strategic plan and directions may include:
financial plan
human resource management plan
marketing plan
purchasing and stock management plan.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice
Yes
No
Comments/feedback
Consult extensively with business owners and senior staff to determine the parameters that will be used for the planning process.
Analyse previous strategic and business plans to identify strengths and weaknesses and inform current processes.
Develop or select a planning methodology to drive the process.
Identify and brief stakeholders who will contribute to the plan’s development.
Negotiate and allocate human and other resources required to support the planning process.
Negotiate and determine a timeframe for the completion of the strategic plan.
Research best practices and trends within the retail industry.
Collect and analyse demographic and trend data to provide profiling information about the organisation’s customer base.
Collect and analyse industry intelligence into the strengths and weaknesses of competitors.
Analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the organisation and its environment.
Identify risks that could constrain the achievement of organisational goals in the short, medium and long term.
Consult with stakeholders to identify issues and expectations affecting the organisation’s operations.
Implement processes to engage staff and relevant stakeholders in the planning process, ensuring ownership of an agreement to the plan’s outcomes.
Seek staff and stakeholder input into establishing the organisation’s vision, mission, values and major goals.
Provide leadership to establish the organisation’s key result areas and performance measures.
Manage the development of the detailed activities that will be required to achieve organisational goals.
Manage the development of specific performance indicators to enable the measurement of success.
Identify, cost and budget the resource levels required to implement the plan.
Consult with experts and staff to review the organisation’s brand management strategy and positioning within the market place.
Undertake consultation, communication and negotiation to gain commitment to the process and the plan.
Obtain sign-off and commitment to the finalised strategic plan from relevant stakeholders and participants.
Manage the development of the tactical or operational annual plans required to implement the longer-term strategic plan.
Plan and prioritise the allocation of human, financial and capital resources to enable implementation.
Put strategies in place to skill the workforce to ensure effective implementation.
Communicate with staff and stakeholders during the implementation process to ensure commitment and gain feedback.
Monitor performance of the implementation process against agreed benchmarks and performance indicators.
Monitor outcomes of the strategic and operational plans in line with agreed organisational processes.
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
SIRXSRM805 - Lead the strategic planning process in a service environment
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Assessment Record Sheet
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