STRATEGIC EXECUTION IN THE BIBLE

• • Joseph demonstrated the power of strategic planning and execution when he handled the famine in Egypt rightly from the interpretation of the dream to the mitigation of the famine.
  • Joseph did not end with interpreting the dream but went on to plan and Pharoah felt Joseph was best placed to implement it.
  • He had an elaborate plan which he executed to the end.
  • He could have left it to the God who had interpreted the dream to bring it to pass but he trusted Him enough to plan for it and followed the plan.
  • Faith does not go against reason it goes beyond it.

STRATEGIC PLANNING EXECUTION PITFALLS

• • Lack of leadership commitment 
  • Poorly defined goals and objectives
  • Inadequate resource allocation 
  • Insufficient communication and engagement
  • Lack of accountability and ownership
  • Siloed organizational culture and coordination challenges
  • Inadequate monitoring and evaluation (KPIs)
  • Inflexibility and resistance to change
  • Lack of adaptability and learning
  • External environmental factors 

MEASUREMENT CHALLENGES IN STRATEGY EXECUTION 

We will not be able to determine if we have executed properly if we don’t measure our progress.  What are some of the challenges we can encounter?

• • Lack of clear and measurable objectives
  • Limited availability of quality data
  • Our metrics don’t align with our strategic goals
  • Complexities and interdependencies of our initiatives
  • Time lag between our actions and our outcomes (by the time we get the data, it’s too late to do anything about it)
  • Resistance to measurement and accountability
  • Cultural and/or organizational barriers

Example of success from one of our national team leaders

One country went from not being very successful to enjoying the benefits of their planning.  Here is what they did differently to change the outcome.

• The leaders made a decision that they needed a planning tool and to consistently use it.   It wasn’t the tool itself, it was the commitment to use it.
• They looked at their national strategic plan once a month
• They set weekly goals together as a team

Questions for thought

• • One of the impediments to effective strategy execution is poor organization. Reflect on your local ministry/strategy and discuss how best to organize yourselves for effective implementation (i.e. the right people in the right place doing the right assignment using the right tools/methods).
  • Based on your thoughts about the challenges of strategic planning and execution, are there people you could consult with who have been successful?

Note: this blog is an excerpt from a discussion let by Dr. Moses Chungu at the African Round Table on October 24, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.