8 Executing Strategy
B
efore discussing the strategic planning process, it’s helpful
to understand the elements of a strategic plan—the out-
growth of the planning process. While strategic plans vary, they
generally contain the following components:
• Direction statement
• Strategic objectives
• Priority issues
• Action plans
Organizations may use different terms for these components and
may differ in how they describe them. However, most organiza-
tions provide an array of information about their strategy and, in
broad terms, explain how they plan to achieve it.
Direction statement ...