For any strategy to have value to an organization, it must be properly implemented. Many businesses however fail to meet their objectives because they encounter challenges during this implementation phase.
Here we will look at what barriers to strategy implementation businesses can face and possible solutions to resolving them.
1. Information Systems
Challenge:
Information deficiencies can hamper strategy implementation. Different teams may have different levels of motivation when it comes to achieving their action goals. They may also have to contend with technology they are not all accustomed to. This can result in differing success in such areas as reporting, budgeting, and sourcing information.
Solution:
Sell your strategy upwards, downwards, and across the organization, which in turn demands an efficient communication system. All employees need to be on board with the strategies and how they are to be accomplished. They also need to be properly trained on available information systems so they can properly utilize them and avoid strategy problems. Management should also consider strategy consulting to help determine what kind of information systems are best suited to achieving organizational goals.
2. Learning
Challenge:
Existing knowledge in the organization about strategy challenges that hinder the acquisition of new knowledge. Failures in the business can be demoralizing. More so when employees do not know how their role contributes towards successfully fulfilling strategy.
Solution:
To implement a strategy, employees need not only to be aware of its existence but also to have the necessary knowledge on how they can contribute towards its achievement. They require support in strengthening their skills and learning new ones that will aid in achieving actionable plans. This training needs to be planned in such a way as to avoid interfering with routine work. The effectiveness of the training also needs to be monitored to ensure employees are putting their new skills to practical use.
3. Allocation of resources
Challenge:
Lack of relationship between strategic plan, capital, operational budget & HR. This is one of the strategic management issues that come from a lack of communication and coordination between teams.
Solution:
Determine the amount and type of each resource that is needed to implement the plans and policies under a given strategy. It is also vital to determine whether there is a need for additional resources and how to acquire it. Smaller organizations should begin by prioritizing and funding their key strategies.
4. Organizational Structure
Challenge:
Organizational structure affects implementation indirectly through its influence on information, control, and decision processes. This strategic challenge can hinder how effectively implementation occurs and make corrective decisions harder to accomplish when a situation alters.
Solution:
Rewarding employees is a good way to strengthen their commitment to pursuing outlined strategies. This is an incentive that encourages positive behavior. Control systems like this have proven successful in inducing employees to execute strategies so that they too can be rewarded. It makes them more competitive and challenged to take on tougher tasks, raising the quality of human resources within the organization.
5. Human Resource Management
Challenge:
When looking at what are the key challenges in strategy implementation, you find that ignoring employee needs and feelings will lead to massive resistance.
Solution:
Align your staff with strategies by satisfying a number of their economic, personal and social needs. Besides making them better informed as to company strategy and how they can help achieve it and its benefits, it is vital to ensure they possess the needed skills for their role. Training, financial incentives, and including them in the development of actionable plans are key.
6. Organizational Culture
Challenge:
Organizational culture act as a kind of organizational glue, thus affecting the degree to which a strategy is successfully implemented. Strategic issues examples that can be influenced by organizational culture include employee commitment to achieving strategy and willingness to accept changes needed for proper implementation
Solution:
Taking a participative approach allows more stakeholders to have input in the development of strategies. When employees are included in this process, they feel more a part of it and are more committed to doing what is needed to achieve the goals. it gives them morale that can build and sustain momentum. Managers and supervisors need to be supportive of this approach to overcome cultural barriers and lead to successful strategy implementation.
Conclusion
Being aware of the challenges of strategic planning and implementation gives organizations foresight and puts you one step ahead of the competition. When those responsible for planning and execution know what possible problems lie ahead, it means they are better equipped to identify such emerging challenges early and take corrective steps to keep the business on track to achieving its goals.
In addition, the success of the project will depend on if you have the right team working on it. That’s why it’s important to identify the right talent before the project begins to increase your chances of it succeeding.
There are plenty of ways to fill the roles you need, whether it be through LinkedIn job posts or indeed to identify the talent you are looking for full time or part time. Another option is to hire a consultant. They offer expert help for the duration of the project, and also help to train existing staff. One way is to hire a consulting firm such as MicroAgility, to provide you with the professional consultants to work with your team. Or if you’d like to quickly find resources and relevant talent, you can explore consulting platforms like iAgility, where they have vetted consultants on demand.
Feel free to explore your options to identify which is the best route for you. Good luck with the execution of your strategy, if there’s anything our team can do to help, let us know!
If you want to learn more about strategy execution, explore our other blog articles here…
