5 Step Strategy Action Plan- Next 3 Phases

Daniel Ling
Jan 17, 2024
4 min read

Updated: May 30

A group of people in masks and gloves discuss a table with LEGO models in a brightly colored room. Notes are visible on the walls. 5 Step Strategy Action Plan- Next 3 Phases

5 Step Strategy Action Plan

After understanding the 3 Parts of Strategy - vision/mission, action plan and tactics- I will move on to focus on the action plan- mainly the 5 Step Strategy Action Plan.

Here's the 5 Step Strategy Action Plan:

1️⃣ Diagnose Phase - to understand current context and situation

2️⃣ Frame and Forecast Phase- to frame future drivers and project a future scenario

3️⃣ Strategize Phase- to discuss and define strategy to overcome the future challenge

4️⃣ Decide Phase- to make decision and plan on a strategy

5️⃣ Implement Phase- to build and implement in accordance to the strategic decision

The 5 Step Action Plan is made up of two distinct parts-

( 1️⃣ Diagnose Phase + 2️⃣ Frame and Forecast Phase) is all about understanding and finding our future challenge while

(3️⃣ Strategize Phase + 4️⃣ Decide Phase + 5️⃣ Implement Phase) is all about identifying and implementing the right strategy to solve that future challenge!

Check out the introduction of the first 2 Phases here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-step-strategy-action-plan-first-two-phases-daniel-ling-lbubc/?trackingId=ZPWn%2FCNfSxq5Xm6zeM3EKw%3D%3D

Let's focus on the next 3 Phases 👇👇

A group of smiling people posing with playful hand gestures on a spiral staircase; a red ribbon across the foreground. Daniel Ling in WSQ Entrepreneurship Business Strategy

Strategy Action Plan Phase 3- Strategize Phase 🔬

Strategize Phase is the third phase of the Strategy Action Plan and you will realise that you don’t strategize right at the start :)..

It takes time and effort to go through Diagnose and Frame & Forecast Phase to understand the current state and to visualise the future roadmap. This will then set a stead for us to strategize.

Some things you'll need to do:

Define Strategy Statement ✍️

Write the strategy that overcome the particular future ( ie Future We Expect, Better Future, Worse Future or Weird Future) and ensure you have all bases covered!

Strategic Options ⛅️

Generate and evaluate various strategic options and alternatives to overcome identified challenges and achieve goals. We call these “tactics”.

Usually after we come out with the strategic options- there will be a presentation or meeting discussion on these strategies

Select Strategies 🤝

Discuss as a team the most effective strategies based on their feasibility, alignment with organizational objectives, and potential for success.

There’s a structure to the mental model of how we strategize. Be sure to learn this!

A woman in a green shirt presents ideas on a flipchart to a group of attentive people in a classroom setting, with notes on the wall. 5 Step Strategy Action Plan- Next 3 Phases — Discussion on strategies in a presentation or storytelling.

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Strategy Action Plan Phase 4- Decide Phase ⚡️⚡️

Decision-Making is one of hardest skillset to learn as it takes a lot of considerations to make decision. It takes empathy, critical thinking and even systems thinking (actions and consequences, risk and rewards, trade-ups and trade-offs)

Usually in the real-world, you don’t just make a decision on a strategy yourself.

Some things you'll need to do:

Decision-Making 🧐

Present and work with stakeholders to make informed decisions from all the strategies and tactics. Usually the stakeholders have different agenda- and it is important for the "strategy" team to empathize them.

For example, the CEO will be looking for value proposition or how the strategy could value-add to the company. The COO will be looking to understand process and resource management. The CFO will be looking at numbers. The CMO will be understanding how this business can grow.

Empathy and Feedback 🎁

Gather timely feedback from stakeholders using the Feedback Matrix and to understand strategies from their POV.

Prioritization 📊

Rank strategic initiatives based on their importance and urgency, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to high-priority projects.

A person in a striped shirt explains ideas to a group in an office. Sticky notes with text are on a board. Serious and focused atmosphere. 5 Step Strategy Action Plan- Next 3 Phases — Analytical CEO will be looking at numbers!

____________________________________

___________________________________

Strategy Action Plan Phase 5- Implement Phase 🛠️🛠️

Implement Phase is where the tyre hits the road, and the team will need to implement the strategies adopted and to deliver an Implementation Plan that is viable, pragmatic and sound.

Continuous monitoring and adaptation are required due changes to trends and scenario in the future- which means that the Implementation Plan is a “living” document.

Some things you'll need to do:

Execution 💪🏻

Develop the Implementation Plan in the area of Rollout Plan, Marketing Plan, Management and Ops Plan as well as the Financial Plan. It ensures alignment with the overall strategic direction of the organization.

Monitor Progress 🏁

Continuously monitor the progress of Implementation and various tactics- tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success and identify any deviations from the plan.

Adaptation 🧑🏻🦯

Be flexible and responsive to changes in the internal and external environment, adjusting strategies and tactics as needed to achieve desired outcomes.

Three people discussing ideas on a whiteboard with colorful sticky notes in a classroom. Engaged expressions, organized workspace. Develop the Strategy Implementation Plan in the area of Rollout Plan, Marketing Plan, Management and Ops Plan as well as the Financial Plan. — Develop the Implementation Plan in the area of Rollout Plan, Marketing Plan, Management and Ops Plan as well as the Financial Plan.

By following these five phases—Diagnose, Frame and Forecast, Strategize, Decide, and Implement—one can develop and execute a comprehensive action plan to effectively implement its strategy and drive success.?

_____________________________

Last Words

I will be adding more articles on Design Thinking, Strategy and Innovation throughout the year. Articles of these 5 Step Action Plan and Modern Soft Skills will be added periodically to give my readers a broader insights to how to crush complex problems, overcome future challenges and spot AI opportunities.

Check out more articles via my blog:https://www.emerge-creatives.com/blog-1

Follow me on social media:

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-ling-designthinkersgroupdtv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designthinkersgroupdtv

Instagram- @designthinkersgroupdtvhttps://www.instagram.com/designthinkersgroupdtv?igsh=ajg2NGplbXJ1cWU4&utm_source=qr

About the Author

Daniel Ling is a regional ex-Design Leader turned educator, and business owner of Emerge Creatives, an registered SSG training provider (RTP) to deliver modern soft skills to professionals through Design Thinking, Business Strategy, and AI Innovation.

With over 15 years of experience in the financial and e-commerce tech industries- including key leadership roles at Lazada, NTUC Income, OCBC, and DBS- Daniel has led cross-regional design teams, built design functions from the ground up, and spearheaded large-scale transformation initiatives. But beyond industry success,

Daniel has reinvented himself as a “designer in a business suit”- equally fluent in creative strategy and commercial impact.

How to sign up for his WSQ Certification Courses

WSQ Advanced Design Thinking:

https://www.emerge-creatives.com/wsq-design-thinking-certification-course

WSQ Entrepreneurship Business Strategy:

https://www.emerge-creatives.com/entrepreneurship-business-planning

WSQ AI Business Innovation:

https://www.emerge-creatives.com/wsq-ai-business-innovation-management

Where to get Complete Design Thinking Guide for Successful Professionals

Download PDF Digital Copy here: https://payhip.com/b/hM4U

Purchase from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1514202735

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Design Thinking Guide Book- Learn how to problem-solve, creative and innovative in the digital transformation, impress your boss and get you promoted

5 Step Strategy Action Plan

After understanding the 3 Parts of Strategy - vision/mission, action plan and tactics- I will move on to focus on the action plan- mainly the 5 Step Strategy Action Plan.

Here's the 5 Step Strategy Action Plan:

1️⃣ Diagnose Phase - to understand current context and situation

2️⃣ Frame and Forecast Phase- to frame future drivers and project a future scenario

3️⃣ Strategize Phase- to discuss and define strategy to overcome the future challenge

4️⃣ Decide Phase- to make decision and plan on a strategy

5️⃣ Implement Phase- to build and implement in accordance to the strategic decision

The 5 Step Action Plan is made up of two distinct parts-

( 1️⃣ Diagnose Phase + 2️⃣ Frame and Forecast Phase) is all about understanding and finding our future challenge while

(3️⃣ Strategize Phase + 4️⃣ Decide Phase + 5️⃣ Implement Phase) is all about identifying and implementing the right strategy to solve that future challenge!

Check out the introduction of the first 2 Phases here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-step-strategy-action-plan-first-two-phases-daniel-ling-lbubc/?trackingId=ZPWn%2FCNfSxq5Xm6zeM3EKw%3D%3D

Let's focus on the next 3 Phases 👇👇

Strategy Action Plan Phase 3- Strategize Phase 🔬

Strategize Phase is the third phase of the Strategy Action Plan and you will realise that you don’t strategize right at the start :)..

It takes time and effort to go through Diagnose and Frame & Forecast Phase to understand the current state and to visualise the future roadmap. This will then set a stead for us to strategize.

Some things you'll need to do:

Define Strategy Statement ✍️

Write the strategy that overcome the particular future ( ie Future We Expect, Better Future, Worse Future or Weird Future) and ensure you have all bases covered!

Strategic Options ⛅️

Generate and evaluate various strategic options and alternatives to overcome identified challenges and achieve goals. We call these “tactics”.

Usually after we come out with the strategic options- there will be a presentation or meeting discussion on these strategies

Select Strategies 🤝

Discuss as a team the most effective strategies based on their feasibility, alignment with organizational objectives, and potential for success.

There’s a structure to the mental model of how we strategize. Be sure to learn this!

Strategy Action Plan Phase 4- Decide Phase ⚡️⚡️

Decision-Making is one of hardest skillset to learn as it takes a lot of considerations to make decision. It takes empathy, critical thinking and even systems thinking (actions and consequences, risk and rewards, trade-ups and trade-offs)

Usually in the real-world, you don’t just make a decision on a strategy yourself.

Some things you'll need to do:

Decision-Making 🧐

Present and work with stakeholders to make informed decisions from all the strategies and tactics. Usually the stakeholders have different agenda- and it is important for the "strategy" team to empathize them.

For example, the CEO will be looking for value proposition or how the strategy could value-add to the company. The COO will be looking to understand process and resource management. The CFO will be looking at numbers. The CMO will be understanding how this business can grow.

Empathy and Feedback 🎁

Gather timely feedback from stakeholders using the Feedback Matrix and to understand strategies from their POV.

Prioritization 📊

Rank strategic initiatives based on their importance and urgency, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to high-priority projects.

Strategy Action Plan Phase 5- Implement Phase 🛠️🛠️

Implement Phase is where the tyre hits the road, and the team will need to implement the strategies adopted and to deliver an Implementation Plan that is viable, pragmatic and sound.

Continuous monitoring and adaptation are required due changes to trends and scenario in the future- which means that the Implementation Plan is a “living” document.

Some things you'll need to do:

Execution 💪🏻

Develop the Implementation Plan in the area of Rollout Plan, Marketing Plan, Management and Ops Plan as well as the Financial Plan. It ensures alignment with the overall strategic direction of the organization.

Monitor Progress 🏁

Continuously monitor the progress of Implementation and various tactics- tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success and identify any deviations from the plan.

Adaptation 🧑🏻🦯

Be flexible and responsive to changes in the internal and external environment, adjusting strategies and tactics as needed to achieve desired outcomes.

By following these five phases—Diagnose, Frame and Forecast, Strategize, Decide, and Implement—one can develop and execute a comprehensive action plan to effectively implement its strategy and drive success.?

About the Author

Daniel Ling is a regional ex-Design Leader turned educator, and business owner of Emerge Creatives, an registered SSG training provider (RTP) to deliver modern soft skills to professionals through Design Thinking, Business Strategy, and AI Innovation.

Daniel has reinvented himself as a “designer in a business suit”- equally fluent in creative strategy and commercial impact.

WSQ AI Business Innovation:

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