Strategic Business Plan - Strategic Business Objectives vs. Quality Objectives

[M Greenaway]

Planning/Objectives

Can anyone adequately define what should go into a strategic business plan, and what should be set as strategic business objectives as opposed to quality objectives ?

Even the hallowed ISO9004 appears to make a distinction, but what is it ?

 

[Randy]

Strategic is pretty much considered to be a long term process

 

[Aaron Lupo]

Re: Planning/Objectives

M Greenaway said:

Can anyone adequately define what should go into a strategic business plan, and what should be set as strategic business objectives as opposed to quality objectives ?

Even the hallowed ISO9004 appears to make a distinction, but what is it ?

JMHO. What i would like to see in strategic planning is where are you today and where do you want to be in the future and what steps are you going to take to get there. Quality/Business objectives- what makes sense to your company what would you like to acheive during the business year what are your goals for this year. Do you want to improve your on-time delivery rate, improve the effectivness of your quality system, break into a new market or increase your market share, do you want to decrease errors in your product, have you had a problem in the past with Corrective Actions not being addressed that could be a goal as well, your company is unique and your goals and objectives should fit you. If an auditor does not like your goals/objectives and planning (as long as they seem reasonable) that is too bad nothing says they have to like them just that you have to have them.

 

[db]

Can anyone adequately define what should go into a strategic business plan, and what should be set as strategic business objectives as opposed to quality objectives ?

I think you are talking two different things. "Objectives" are the outcomes you seek. skullsike's "To make a profit!", for example. The "Plan" is how you intend in achieving the objective. There are two levels of plans. "Strategic" plans are long range plans, normally associated with "terminal" (or final) objectives. "Tactical" plans are short-term and focused on "intermediate" objectives that keep us on track to the terminal objectives.

IMNSHO

 

[M Greenaway]

My thinking is they are the same thing.

To point to a business plan and say these are our business objectives, and then to another document and say these are our quality objectives seems somewhat daft.

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Strategic planning? I miss one thing among the stuff mentioned above...

The basic business idea... The idea or ideas that forms the very foundation of, or maybe even got the company started in the fist place. Surely we need to review that, and decide if it's still sound before any visions, strategys, policys or objectives of any kind can be set? If it is not, no amount of planning will help.

An example: I'm sure that manufacturers of horse shoes got something to think about when automobiles became common... Not at once of course, but log term:

/Claes

 

[Nosmo King]

M Greenaway said: To point to a business plan and say these are our business objectives, and then to another document and say these are our quality objectives seems somewhat daft.

I agree. It is unhelpful to make a distinction of that sort --- between business objectives and quality objectives.

When we know what our objectives are, it gives us an exact and precise definition of "quality".

 

[NYHawkeye - 2005]

M Greenaway said:

To point to a business plan and say these are our business objectives, and then to another document and say these are our quality objectives seems somewhat daft.

I would agree with what I believe most people are saying in this thread - at the highest level the quality objectives can and should be the same as business objectives. That is, all parts of the business should share a common high level vision and set of strategic objectives.

Where the distinction can be drawn, however, is not on what needs to be achieved but on how it will be achieved. For example, if a company has a business objective of growing by entering a new market the "quality" system can play a key role in getting the business processes positioned to succeed in the new market. The quality objectives can be used to ensure that the business processes are capable of achieving whatever the new market requires whether it be higher reliability, faster delivery, better service, etc...

Simply saying that the business objectives and the quality objectives are the same may be correct but it is not enough. The gap between current performance and desired performance should be analyzed, objectives should be developed to close the gaps, and actions taken to meet the objectives. The quality management system can be used to close the business process gaps.

 

[Freddiem11]

In my opinion, they differ. Quality objectives and planning run parallel with business objectives and planning, with quality objectives being obviously more customer focused, while business planning tends to lean towards the financial management, marketing, and profitability of an organization. Balance it out, then you're hittin on all cylinders. ISO 9001 doesn't guarantee profitability. When not implemented correctly, it can be a large expense. ISO 9001 really doesn't touch on marketing and profitability very much, just pleasing the customers that you already have, but your strategic business plan better!

 

[Randy]

Strategic planning:

The process by which an organization envisions its future and develops strategies, goals, objectives and action plans to achieve that future.