Strategy Survival Guide

Strategy Survival Guide Version 2.1
Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit
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Strategy Development > Justification & Set Up > Management Issues
A large part of this phase is taken up with management tasks that lay the foundation for the project. The
management task, however, is by no means over. The project plan should be continually evaluated and
revised in the light of changing circumstances, and stakeholders will need to be involved and managed
throughout the project.
Project Management
The first issue to be addressed is that of gaining buy-in and commitment to the project. This is essential if the
project is going to have any impact, and if the necessary resources are going to be made available. The
main project management task in this phase is the development of the project plan. This will involve
defining and structuring the problem, committing to key milestones and outputs, identifying risks, and agree
the project governance structure.
People Management
A team should be recruited that has the right mix of skills and experience and is large enough to handle the
expected work load. Consideration should be given to the benefits of including representatives of key
stakeholders or delivery agencies within the team. Roles and responsibilities within the team should be
defined and agreed, and an active approach should be taken to team building and ensuring the team work
well together.
Stakeholder Management
The process of developing a stakeholder engagement plan will involve identifying and establishing contact
with key stakeholders. It is important to start to understand their issue and concerns, and use this to both
inform the vision driving the project, and the criteria by which the final strategic direction will be selected.
Communications Management
Even at this early stage a communications strategy should be developed that sets out what and how the
team intend to communicate about the project, particularly in relation to the media.
Useful links:
> managing people and the project
> managing stakeholders & communications
Strategy Survival Guide – Strategy Development
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