EMBA的小眼睛

The annual plan construction set

It's that time of year, when big companies race to put together their annual plan for the coming year. These documents, even though they're now digital, involve thousands of hours of analog meetings and discussion and compromise. To save you time, here's a simple list you can use. Just pick one or more phrases, string them together using words like, "using," and a bit of reconjugation and you're on your way.

Act in collaboration
Break existing paradigms
Commit to quality
Define new aspirational goals
Deliver on opportunities
Develop and align talent
Develop the optimal portfolio of differentiated brands
Differentiate the product base
Enable technology
Engage globally
Enhance the digital experience
Focus on our strengths
Grow through innovation
Identify new opportunities
Innovate through growth
Invest in people
Juxtapose complementary opportunities
Key partners
Leverage existing assets
Maximize returns
Normalize customer expectations
Operate more efficiently
Position the organization for future growth
Recharge the culture
Structure the organization for effective performance
Test new hypotheses
Understand new innovations
The problem with plans created by committees is that they are built on vague. That's because vague is safe, and no one ever got in trouble for failing to meet a vague plan. But vague is singularly unhelpful when it's time to make a hard decision.