Question

Discuss the six barriers to strategy implementation and the corresponding principles for engaging and overcoming them?

Answer 1

Every Business makes strategies for current and long term success. But designing the strategy is not the end of the process. A designed strategy should be properly implemented in the system which leads to success. “Strategy Implementation” is the process of execution of plans and strategies, which accomplish the long term goals of the business. However there are some barriers to strategy implementation. For a successful strategy implementation, it is imperative to identify those barriers and then take steps to overcome those barriers.

Let us see some of the common barriers in a strategy implementation and few ways to overcome them:

1. Lack of Leadership & ownership: At the time of strategizing, there should be clear roles and responsibilities identified with defined milestones.
2. Lack of Resources: At the time of making strategy, all necessary resources in terms of material or man power should be identified. In case the clarity is not available, scope should be there for addition. Sometimes there might be a scarcity of resources during implementation. Such situations should be accounted for in the original strategy document as risks and relevant mitigation plan should be identified.
3. Lack of funding: Usually during the strategy planning phase, budgets are identified. However in case there is a lack of funding observed then re strategizing should be done to work on the essential and non-essential steps to look for possible way ahead.
4. Lack of Communication: Communication plays a very important right from the time of strategy planning to its completion. Clear roles should be identified with key milestones At every step the progress with risks and mitigation plans should be communicated.
5. Resistance to change: For any strategy to be successful there should be a robust change management plan that should be put in place. Making use of a deployment analyst and identifying champions of change may be a few key steps towards successful change implementation. Getting feedback and implementing them might be useful from key stakeholders.
6. Sustenance of Change: To see the fruits of and strategy implementation, it should sustain for required amount of time. Constant fueling to the strategy in the form of feedback or surveys should be done to ensure sustenance.