Customer Reviews

Strategic Planning For Dummies

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I like practical, actionable advice and this book delivers. You could use it to quickly develop a plan (it gives you shortcuts) or you can use the tools and business examples to go deep into your internal and external analyses. Even though I have done strategic planning before, this book covered several new topics that I will refer to and use as I update our plans. Every time I need a quick refresher, I'll be able to reach for my book and find it. It even helps you with the planning process, like how to hold a strategic planning retreat. No excuses!

"Strategic Planning" is a bit of a limited name in my opinion. I'd have called it "Business School in a Book" or maybe, "All the Things You Probably didn't Think About when your Last Business Failed." That's pretty much how I feel as I read it. As I reflect on past mistakes with this as a lens, things seem so much clearer. Providing a birds eye view of the overall business process and all its relevant areas of concern, this already worn book will be sitting on my desk for a long time.

My organization had a tough time nailing down what our strategic plan should consist of and how to put it into practical use. We'd been floundering for months. This well-written, easy to understand and easy to implement publication saved the day. Our plan is no longer a binder sitting a bookshelf collecting dust and co-workers don't regard it as, "Whew, we don't have to look at THAT again for the next few years." We're excited about our new focus and Ms. Olsen is to thank for it.

This book is like all to many non-fiction informative books.

It's way too long way to drawn out and that's not to say that there is no useful information because there is plenty. But it becomes a practice of self-discipline to push on and wade through all of the fluff and repetition to get to anything useful.

It's not very well written. I'd estimate that at least 40% of the book consists of lists. And 30% of the items on the list overlap/repeat other items on some other list.

To be fair there is a lot of useful information but you have to do your best and hang in there.

I am interested in learning the nuts and bolts of strategic planning to better apply my company's strategy management software for our customers. This book appears to have received 8 glowing reviews. Funny thing, though: those reviewers who state their location are from Reno NV or other NV locations. The others do not give their location. Looking at the author's profile, she is located in Reno NV. Is that a coincidence or are these "seeded" reviews meant to pump up the book? To be fair, I have not read the book, nor will I give it a bad rating for having clearly suspicious reviews. If I buy it and like it, I will adjust my rating accordingly.

Following the steps outlined in Strategic Planning for Dummies, we were able to put together an entire strategic plan during one weekend and following the author's advice, we also had some fun. We returned with a plan the staff could be excited about and we each have a step-by-step guide to follow. I highly recommend the book and the strategic planning process.

This book was okay for my purposes. It does have some helpful information in a very easy to understand format.

I would suggest this book to anyone with the same needs as myself.

This is one of those book that you need to re-read every year or two. The lack of strategic planning is what really kills companies.

For instance: anyone could have seen for the past twenty years or so that the price of oil was going to go up dramatically. The American automobile companies, instead of working on fuel efficiency worked to convince people to buy big SUVs and pickup trucks, upon which they make more money. So gasoline goes to $3 a gallon, and the American companies lose more market share to the foreign manufactures. Thousands of automobile workers are laid off, and the Big 3 just may not survive.

Some of the points brought out in the book make such perfect sense - 'Increase Your Prices.' I work with a local civic chorus. They were charging $3 to attend a performance. I raised the price to $5, lots of doom forecasting. Just as many people came. I raised the price to $10 and spent a couple of hundred on posters put up around town. More people came than when the prices were $3.

Get the book. It's simple and fast to read. If you get only one good idea out of it you're way over the few bucks it cost and the few hours it took to read. In a few months, read it again. You'll get at least one more good idea.

This book is a great reference for strategic planning. It is easy-to-use and I loved its conversational approach.

The tips and warnings were the best because they stood out and were easy to remember.

Strategic Planning for Dummies has helped my business of 12 years to develop tactics that are customized to my businesses needs.
This book is a fast reference for business people like myself who don't have time.