In This Issue

The Ninth Critical Skill in Strategic Thinking is Honesty
Questions & Answers
Did You Miss These Recent Articles?
Strategic Planning Resources

The Ninth Critical Skill in Strategic Thinking is Honesty

There are almost as many definitions of customer loyalty as there are companies which try to build and sustain the concept. Some of the components are common, however. Let’s take a look at some of them.

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Questions & Answers

What role should our board of directors play in strategic planning?
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Can small “breakout” groups be used effectively during the Strategic Planning meetings?
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This column is intended to answer common questions related to strategic planning and strategy in general. In each issue we will answer questions posed by seminar attendees, our clients and our readers. Please send your questions to –
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Mail: CSSP, Inc. PO Box 8272, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Article Archives

Did you miss these recent articles?

Customer Loyalty – What is it really?

There are almost as many definitions of customer loyalty as there are companies which try to build and sustain the concept. Some of the components are common, however. Let’s take a look at some of them.

This is How Powerful Strategic Planning Steps Build Commitment

By M. Dana Baldwin

Its important to follow a few basic strategic planning steps to build team commitment.  When your team gets together to initiate/update your strategic plan, what is everyone looking to get out of the process? Naturally, nearly everyone has their own personal interests and perceived needs and wants.

Whole Brain Thinking Is One of the Critical Strategic Thinking Skills

By Robert W. Bradford

The ability to analyze issues using both “left brained” and “right brained” thinking is critical to really great strategic thinking.  In business, many of us have a tendency to lean on one or the other type of thinking.  Truly strategic thinking, however, involves a more holistic understanding of situations.  This is at least partly because strategic situations are rarely pure “left brained” or “right brained” scenarios.

This is How Communication Improves Your Strategic Planning

By M. Dana Baldwin

Most executives and their teams agree that they should  plan the future course and direction of their organization with strategic planning. This is to help them optimize the overall results, both top line and bottom line, for their organization.  How many people think beyond the basics of strategic planning to consider the deeper implications?  They all know they need to plan what they are going to have the organization pursue to meet their intentions.

How Many Market Segments Should You Have to be Successful?

By Robert W. Bradford

One of the benefits of doing a huge number of strategic plans is that we get to see lots of variations.  I started my work in strategic planning with a suspicion that I knew the right number of market segments to analyze.  Actually developing a plan with more – or less – market segments, however, has shed new light on why my suspicions were correct.  Most of all, market segmentation helps us do a better job of collecting data, analyzing the market, and setting strategy.

How to Succeed When Market Trends Change

By Denise Harrison

More strategy articles…