Many companies believe that having a strategy is enough to succeed. But a strategy alone will not work unless there is a process for implementing and managing it. Strategic management is a mechanism that allows a company to plan, control, and adjust its actions to achieve long-term goals. 

This checklist will help you objectively assess the current state of strategic management in your company. By answering the questions, you will be able to identify the strengths of your approach and also find areas for improvement. This will allow you to:

• Check how involved your team is in strategic processes.
• Assess how prepared your business is for change and risk management.
• Understand what tools and systems need to be implemented to achieve long-term goals.

Assessing strategic management is the first step to making your business more flexible, adaptive and competitive. The sooner you identify potential gaps, the sooner you can implement improvements and strengthen your company's position in the market.

1. The relationship between strategy and operations

• Is there a clear link between long-term strategic goals and day-to-day operational activities?

☐ Yes, operational objectives always follow from strategy.

☐ No, strategy and day-to-day tasks often exist separately.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Does your company have a system for translating strategy into concrete plans and projects?

☐ Yes, each strategic step is transformed into specific initiatives.

☐ No, plans are created spontaneously.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

If operational activities are not linked to strategy, the achievement of long-term goals is at risk.

2. Distribution of responsibilities and roles in the implementation of the strategy

• Is responsibility for implementing strategic initiatives clearly assigned between departments and employees?

☐ Yes, each strategic task has ONE responsible person.

☐ No, responsibility is blurred or unclearly distributed.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Do all employees understand their role in achieving strategic goals?

☐ Yes, everyone knows how their contribution impacts the overall goals.

☐ No, many employees do not understand how their work relates to strategy.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

When there is no clear distribution of responsibility, strategy implementation becomes chaotic.

3. Monitoring and control of strategy implementation

• Do you have regular monitoring of the implementation of strategic goals?

☐ Yes, we have a clear process for tracking progress.

☐ No, monitoring is carried out irregularly or in an unstructured manner.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Do you use data and metrics to measure progress in key areas?

☐ Yes, we have a KPI system that allows us to accurately track success.

☐ No, we do not have a clear measurement system.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

Without systematic monitoring, a strategy may "stop" without noticeable results.

4. Change management and strategy adaptation

• Is your company prepared to change its strategy as external conditions change?

☐ Yes, we have mechanisms to adapt the strategy.

☐ No, changes are usually difficult to implement.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Are changes in strategy and the need to adjust it in line with market trends discussed?

☐ Yes, we have regular strategy sessions.

☐ No, the strategy is rarely revised.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

Strategy must remain flexible or it may become obsolete in a changing world.

5. Resource management for strategy implementation

• Are resources (finance, time, people) allocated effectively to implement strategic initiatives?

☐ Yes, we have a clear process for allocating resources for strategic projects.

☐ No, resources are often redistributed chaotically.

No, there are often not enough resources

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Are projects regularly reviewed for optimal use of resources?

☐ Yes, we quickly respond to changes and change priorities.

☐ No, re-prioritization occurs rarely.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

Ineffective resource management can jeopardize the successful implementation of the strategy.

6. Communication and employee engagement

• Is the company's strategy communicated at all levels of the organization?

☐ Yes, employees are regularly informed about strategic goals and their significance.

☐ No, strategy is discussed only at the top management level.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Are employees actively involved in the strategy implementation process?

☐ Yes, employees are motivated and understand their role.

☐ No, their participation is limited to day-to-day tasks.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

When employees are not involved in implementing a strategy, it often becomes “paper” and does not achieve real results.

7. Culture and leadership in strategic management

• Does the corporate culture support the strategic management process?

☐ Yes, culture facilitates change and innovation.

☐ No, the culture is conservative and discourages innovation.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Do leaders in the company support strategic initiatives and motivate employees?

☐ Yes, leaders actively drive strategy and its execution.

☐ No, leaders are not always involved in strategic processes.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

Without the right culture and leadership, successful strategic management becomes virtually impossible.

8. Innovation and strategic development

• Do you innovate as part of your strategy?

☐ Yes, innovation is part of our long-term strategy.

☐ No, we do not focus on innovation.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

• Do you have processes in place to quickly incorporate new ideas and technologies into strategy execution?

☐ Yes, we have a clear process from idea to implementation.

☐ No, implementing new ideas is often difficult.

☐ I find it difficult to answer

Strategic management must include innovation as the main driver of growth and competitiveness.

Results

If you answered yes to most of the questions, this is a good sign – you have strategic management in place, which contributes to the successful implementation of the strategy. 

If you answered "No" to more than 3 questions, this is a clear signal that your strategic management needs some work. 

What to do next?

To improve strategic management in your company, we recommend assessing your current business model and identifying weaknesses. One way to do this is to participate in our seminar "Grow your business"During the seminar we:

• We will describe your current business model in detail.
• We will identify possible risks and weaknesses.
• We will build a risk map and a business model transformation plan to achieve the company's goals.

Register for the seminar to take your business strategic management to the next level!

Still have questions? Sign up for a consultation and we will tell you how else we can help your business achieve results.

* Download this checklist in the Quick Solutions section on this page

Want to know more - watch the video "What is strategic management and why is it needed in a company?", in which Alexander Pankov examines strategic management - a key tool for effective business development and achieving long-term goals.