Obstacles to the implementation of strategic plans in institutions
By Eng. Mohamed Ali Adwan
The strategic plan is the main tool for institutions to chart a clear and integrated course of action to reach the achievement of their goals and objectives. On the other hand, institutions that do not adopt such plans suffer from randomness and lack of effectiveness and efficiency. and are subject to the attraction and fluctuations of circumstances, And often they can’t withstand enormous challenges and big variables in reality, It also becomes powerless against competitors who have clear visions and accurate strategic plans to implement those visions, ensuring their sustainable influence and competition within the markets.
In the same context, the importance of strategic analysis cannot be overlooked as one of the most important planning tools through which the strengths and weaknesses within institutions are identified, as well as the opportunities and threats that they may face during their work and in their dealings with competitors. It is the way to form a successful, effective and applicable strategic plan, Without analysis, no strategic plan is efficient. On the other hand, operational plans are considered as the executive arm that without formulating them with the required efficiency, they open the door wide to a series of problems that hinder the implementation of those plans , which we will mention during this article.
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We can say that the most prominent of these problems and obstacles can be summarized as follows:
First: Lack of harmonization between strategic planning and operational planning:
It is important to know how to project strategic planning on the reality of the institution, and this can only be done with successful operational planning that takes into account the capabilities available within the institution, whether human or financial, It is also necessary to get rid of the state of schizophrenia and incoherence between strategic and operational plans, This is mainly by reference to the strategic objectives and medium-term strategies in the formation of any operational objective.
Second: Employees’ lack of understanding of the nature of the strategic plan and the mechanisms of its implementation.
Here, there is a great need and urgency to integrate and participate all employees in the preparation of strategic plans at the functional level, leading to direct or indirect participation in the formulation of the strategic plan at the organizational level. On the other hand, the staff who is responsible for the implementation task must be qualified and trained in a systematic and thoughtful manner that ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation process.
Third: Resistance to change:
We don’t broadcast a secret if we say that there are those who do not want change, Rather, he wants to perpetuate the status quo, And make it like this all the time, Every attempt to change harms them because they feel it takes them out of their familiar framework. Not to mention being lazy, And afraid of change.
Fourth: Conflict of interest.
The scourge of many institutions lies in the opposing groups and internal blocs that work in accordance with their interests mainly. without regard to the public interest and the interests of others, You find negligence in implementing plans that do not correspond to their interests, And even fabricate justifications and try to circumvent these plans by pressuring senior management at times and tricks at other times.
Fifth: Inappropriate administrative and financial capabilities of the institution:
It plays an important role, especially if the strategic plan does not take into account the administrative capabilities represented by the organizational and administrative structure and human capital on the one hand, and the financial capabilities and budgets, and on the other hand, it is not reasonable to implement a strategic plan that exceeds many times the capacity of the institution, We have thus condemned those plans to death and failure in the bud.
