NOT Another Pretty Binder!: Strategic Planning That Actually Works

Robert A. Simpkins with Behnaz S. Paknejad
HRD Press (2008)
ISBN 9781599961392
Reviewed by Kathleen Dowdell for Reader Views (2/09)

 

Author Robert A. Simpkins, with Behnaz S. Paknejad, purports in “NOT Another Pretty Binder” that this book cuts to the chase and presents clear and precise steps to create a strategic plan that can be successfully incorporated in any organization. Written in almost a workbook format, each chapter addresses a particular theme and then applies that theme or process to the organization’s strategic plan.

One entire chapter is devoted to understanding the strategy of the larger organization. Strategic planning is often hampered when individuals do not understand the vision and mission of the organization. They may see the vision and mission in writing but interpret it in a different manner than management intended. Before moving forward with any strategic plan it is important for all individuals to understand the strategy of the organization.

According to Simpkins, most strategic plans fail because employees don’t take the plan seriously and do not see how it relates to them. It boils down to “what's in it for me” and if the plan is not communicated on that level, the employees lose interest. In a typical “strategic planning continuum” five stages occur:

- Excitement for New, Hot Planning Model
- Deployment
- Frustration
- Disillusionment
- Abandonment in Favor of the Next Hot Planning Model

The authors point out that senior leadership, the people responsible for strategic planning, are drowning in information overload. Often it’s impossible to separate what information is vital to the organization and what is superfluous. It is important to have performance-based measurements so as the organization moves forward with its plan it will be able to tell if its goals are being met. The strategic-planning model does just that.

Teams are a critical component in strategic planning. Having a diverse group of individuals creates different observations, perspectives, and understanding. Brainstorming sessions allow the creativity of diverse individuals to rise to center stage. This leads to a better all-encompassing environment which stretches the talent of the individuals of the organization. Personality differences must be taken into account. Who is best suited for accomplishing the tasks that need to be done and how can each individual’s strengths be best matched for the tasks on hand?

This book is filled with a lot of information, sometimes overwhelming to the reader. It’s definitely a book that cannot be digested in one reading, but rather, used as a kept-on- hand reference to be consulted regularly (and as the title indicates – “NOT Another Pretty Binder!” - it will not gather dust, as a binder would do, while sitting on a bookcase.)  I would recommend individuals who have recently moved into a manager or mid-manager role read this book and refer to it regularly. “NOT Another Pretty Binder!: Strategic Planning That Actually Works” by Robert A. Simpkins with Behnaz S. Paknejad is graphically accurate in helping the reader understand the bigger picture in any organization

 

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