Monitoring and Evaluation: Are They Really That Necessary?
So your company has met for the retreat, the consultant has facilitated the development and articulation of the strategic plan, the final report has been received and now it sits on the desk. What to do next?
Unfortunately, too often strategic plans end up collecting dust on bookcases. What many organizations fail to understand is that the actual monitoring and evaluating of the implementation is as important as the formulation of the strategic plan itself. Through on-going monitoring, or the taking of periodic looks into how the process is going, the organization is able to ensure that the established direction embedded within the plan is being followed.
There are many important reasons for monitoring the implementation of the strategic plan. Possibly the most important reason is that it allows organizations to ensure that efforts are conforming to the plan. It helps to keep agencies ‘on track’. Also, it is imperative that the results being garnered correspond to the specified and quantitative objectives. Management needs to ensure that the organization is accomplishing what was intended. By continually monitoring, it allows the organization to make any necessary changes along the way. This provides the opportunity to fine tune not only the strategies necessary to achieve the goals but the planning process as well.
Monitoring encourages improved employee performance. When people understand that there is accountability for personal performance, most adults will be stimulated to do a better job. Authentic learning generally takes place when people are immersed in new information and materials and then continue to reflect upon their individual experiences. This also allows management to learn about the organization and how they should monitor the progress of the strategic plan, tailoring it to the specific needs of the company.
An effective strategic plan will identify those people responsible for achieving goals, objectives, and individual tasks but also those who will oversee the overall implementation of the plan. The plan must also indicate who will monitor the implementation and make ongoing decisions based upon the results. Is the board expecting regular updates and reports with respect to the progress of each of the strategic goals? Is the CEO requiring regular updates from each of the middle managers? The established process will often vary from organization to organization but it must be outlined and followed in order for systemic change to occur.
An additional benefit to monitoring the process is that it will become the early warning system. If a particular department is heading in a direction that it not conducive to the actualizing of their specific goals, these situations will become evident through on-going monitoring. Problems will show themselves and provide for opportunities to re-think current practices and remediate for future success.
Possibly the most important reason for monitoring is that it provides the vital link between the written plan and the day-to-day running of the operation. It allows all to see that the business truly is being run according to the plan. Through on-going monitoring, the strategic plan becomes a tangible reality as opposed to a once-a-year academic exercise.
In order to accomplish the goals set out in the strategic plan and allow for a successful transformation of the organization to the next level, a mastery-focused culture must be created. From this a process of continuous monitoring must be put in place. In this globally competitive marketplace, isn’t the future success of the organization worth it?
Melissa Davies, president and founder of Wise Ways Consulting, Inc., is a northern Virginia-based, strategic planning and diversity consultant with a solid reputation for results. She can be reached at Melissa@wisewaysconsulting.com.
