SIRXSRM805
Lead the strategic planning process in a service environment

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.

Application

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.


Prerequisites

Nil


Elements and Performance Criteria

Element

Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Initiate the strategic planning process.

1.1.Consult extensively with business owners and senior staff to determine the parameters that will be used for the planning process.

1.2.Analyse previous strategic and business plans to identify strengths and weaknesses and inform current processes.

1.3.Develop or select a planning methodology to drive the process.

1.4.Identify and brief stakeholders who will contribute to the plan’s development.

1.5.Negotiate and allocate human and other resources required to support the planning process.

1.6.Negotiate and determine a timeframe for the completion of the strategic plan.

2. Conduct an environmental and organisational scan.

2.1.Research best practices and trends within the retail industry.

2.2.Collect and analyse demographic and trend data to provide profiling information about the organisation’s customer base.

2.3.Collect and analyse industry intelligence into the strengths and weaknesses of competitors.

2.4.Analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the organisation and its environment.

2.5.Identify risks that could constrain the achievement of organisational goals in the short, medium and long term.

2.6.Consult with stakeholders to identify issues and expectations affecting the organisation’s operations.

3. Establish organisational directions.

3.1.Implement processes to engage staff and relevant stakeholders in the planning process, ensuring ownership of an agreement to the plan’s outcomes.

3.2.Seek staff and stakeholder input into establishing the organisation’s vision, mission, values and major goals.

3.3.Provide leadership to establish the organisation’s key result areas and performance measures.

4. Develop the strategic plan.

4.1.Manage the development of the detailed activities that will be required to achieve organisational goals.

4.2.Manage the development of specific performance indicators to enable the measurement of success.

4.3.Identify, cost and budget the resource levels required to implement the plan.

4.4.Consult with experts and staff to review the organisation’s brand management strategy and positioning within the market place.

4.5.Undertake consultation, communication and negotiation to gain commitment to the process and the plan.

4.6.Obtain sign-off and commitment to the finalised strategic plan from relevant stakeholders and participants.

5. Manage the implementation process.

5.1.Manage the development of the tactical or operational annual plans required to implement the longer-term strategic plan.

5.2.Plan and prioritise the allocation of human, financial and capital resources to enable implementation.

5.3.Put strategies in place to skill the workforce to ensure effective implementation.

5.4.Communicate with staff and stakeholders during the implementation process to ensure commitment and gain feedback.

5.5.Monitor performance of the implementation process against agreed benchmarks and performance indicators.

5.6.Monitor outcomes of the strategic and operational plans in line with agreed organisational processes.

Required Skills

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

Evidence Required

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.


Range Statement

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.


Sectors

Cross-Sector


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.