The Strategic Edge ASP's monthly update on strategy news, tools, resources and upcoming events
June 2015
Contents:
The Presidential Perspective Message from Lee Crumbaugh, ASP President
The Presidential Perspective Members At Work Webinars Chapter Events Announcements Certification Corner Membership Corner Career Center
Decisions, decisions! As an editorial intern at the Chicago Daily News, the city's famed afternoon daily newspaper, I was relegated to writing obituaries and the weather forecast, and getting cheeseburgers and chips for columnist Mike Royko at the Billy Goat Tavern made famous on NBC's Saturday Night Live. But I got a few meaty assignments, the biggest covering the "police riot" in Chicago's Grant Park during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. As memorable as that summer was, the best thing that came out it was critical input into a big decision I faced. Managing Editor Emmett Dedmon made a point of meeting with each intern and talking to us about our future. "So what are you going to do when you graduate [from journalism school]?" he asked me. "Oh, I'll probably get a master's degree in journalism." He responded, "Why in the world would you do that? Unless you want to teach, get a degree in something useful, like business or law."
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My life was changed by unexpected input into my decision making from a noted journalist and World War II veteran whose plane was shot down and who then spent two years in a German prisoner-of-war camp. I pursued my MBA and a career path which has led to strategy consulting and ASP leadership. Making good decisions is at the heart of effective strategic planning and strategic management. That's why I have been taking a deep dive into how we can make big decisions better. I could (and will!) write volumes about why we make bad decisions and how to make better ones, but for the purpose of this column I will pass on two critical steps to better decision making:
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1.
2. Connect with ASP
Exercise restraint in forming a hypothesis or putting a frame around the information you have at hand. Opt for more evidence and input, and question whether what you think you see is really what's at work. Sometimes what seems obvious is not reality, as Sherlock Holmes so often demonstrated. Expose your thinking to others. We are beset by so many mental traps in decision making that we are often blind to key evidence and what it means. Others can help you see things in a new light and can offer alternative possibilities for action. In the Association for Strategic Planning we are now updating our strategic plan and our committees are preparing to deliver more value to ASP members in the new fiscal year starting next month. We need your involvement so we make the best decisions on ASP's behalf. I encourage all ASP members to offer their experience, perspective and needs, to engage so ASP delivers as much as possible of what strategists and users of strategy need to make their organizations more successful. To that end, following is a list of ASP's 2015-2016 committees and the ASP members who have stepped up to chair these committees (with a few yet to be
named). Decide where your skills and interests align and feel free to email the committee chair about your interest and to learn about the committee's charge and how you can help. Volunteers are at the heart of ASP's success. We need all the great minds and helpful hands we can get. We need you!
My best,
Lee Crumbaugh ASP President
Members At Work It is always interesting to hear from members and their activities. Let us know what moves you are making, articles you are writing and presentations you are giving in the area of strategy and strategic planning. John McGonangle (Member – Pennsylvania) has just been interviewed for an article on competitive Intelligence in the June issue of Supplier Global Resource. He comments that Competitive Intelligence provides qualitative data, and answers who is doing what and when. The article reads like a thriller: “They waited until it was quiet before closing in. Behind an imposing building in downtown Chicago sat several dumpsters. Under
cover of darkness, the trespassers opened the lids as quietly as possible and lifted out the contents...". Click here to read more. Neelima Firth (Member – Los Angeles) and Diane Meister (Member – Chicago) are jointly giving a talk titled “Scenario Planning to Manage Strategic Business and Regulatory Risk” at the 5th Annual Medical Devices Summit West in San Jose, California They were invited to speak at the conference at a time of great change in the healthcare landscape with healthcare reform, where medical device companies are all looking at different scenarios for their organizations. Bob Rich (Member – National Capital Area) has moved to the Arctic Research Consortium of the US as Executive Director. He is staying in the DC area but of course will be traveling to the Poles.
Global Webinars
How the Most Successful Organizations Innovate Anthony Marshall, Global CEO Study Program Director at IBM Institute for Business Value July 14, 2015 12:00 pm - 1:00pm EST Outperforming organizations approach innovation differently from other organizations. In collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit, the IBM Institute for Business Value has surveyed and analyzed responses from more than 1,000 C-suite level executives globally on the topic of innovation. Analysis reveals that the most successful organizations pursue innovation differently across three dimensions.
Creating a Strategic Thinking Board: 25 Tips in 35 Minutes Robert Nelson, President of Nelson Strategic Consulting August 11, 2015 12:00 pm - 1:00pm EST Have you ever wondered why board members seem to take off their strategic thinking caps before entering the boardroom? This session explores why boards aren’t strategic thinking entities and, more importantly, presents 25 tangible ideas you can use to transition a board to a strategic thinking body.
Registration Rates: $40.00 - Member $70.00 - Non-member $40.00 - Student Learn more about the ASP Global Webinar Series.
Chapter Events/Webinars Special Free Global Webinar: Strategic Planning Models—Which Works Best?
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THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT! Due to the popularity of this event we have run out of seats. If you would like to join the waitlist in case someone who has registered cannot attend please RSVP and we will contact you on a first come first served basis. A recording will be circulated to those on the waitlist. July 28, 2015 Webinar, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Norcal Chapter: The Secret Sauce of Execution: Turning Strategy Into Action with the Logical Framework Approach
Webinar:
September 9, 2015 In Person & Webinar Event, 11:30AM-1:30PM ET In Person Practicum 1:45-4:45PM ET
In-Person:
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Announcements Alejandro Paredes awarded the 2015 PMI Award for Project Excellence - Latin America Congratulations to Honduras Chapter President, Alejandro Paredes, who recently was awarded the 2015 PMI Award for Project Excellence - Latin America. The PMI Award for Project Excellence recognizes, honors and publicizes project and team success achieved through the superior performance and application of project management practices. Award recipients will officially be announced at the PMI award Ceremony held on Saturday, October 10, 2014 in Orlando, Florida as part of the PMI Global Congress North America. Congratulations Alejandro!
ASP-Chicago Wishes “Best Regards” to Chapter President John Sterling The Chicago Chapter wants to extend its thanks to John Sterling for his stellar leadership as chapter president. John’s term has concluded and he is passing the gavel onto newly elected chapter president, Randy Rollinson. Thank you John!
ASP-Chicago Sponsored Strategic Management Certificate Program
ASP-Chicago Chapter continues to sponsor ASP Registered Education Provider, LBL Strategies’ delivery of the DePaul University Strategic Management Certificate Program. Seven cohorts of the instructor led “live/online” program have been delivered since 2012 and beginning in August of 2015, DePaul will offer an “ondemand” option providing the same quality strategic planning and management content, allowing participants the flexibility to complete the program as an independent learning experience. “We realized that for many international students, the current ‘live/online’ format became an obstacle to completing the course,” states Randall Rollinson, President of LBL Strategies. The new format gives participants the flexibility to work through the program’s content in self-paced modules. The Strategic Management Certificate program immerses participants in the industry respected and universally applied practices in strategic planning and management. It is continuing professional education that delivers understanding, practical tools and is aligned with ASP’s “Lead-Think-Plan-Act” guide to the Body of Knowledge. Participants gain valuable experience as well as establish a pathway to ASP Certification and, to date, program graduates going on to sit for ASP “Strategic Planning Professional” certification have a 100% pass rate. For more information, click here.
Certification Corner Certification Profile: An Interview with Erik Phelps, SMP Q: Please share a little about yourself. I have served as a Principal Organizational Strategist with MITRE for eleven years this coming August. Q: What type of work do you do? I serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders within the Federal government, providing consulting and oversight for the development and implementation of strategic plans, governance models, and performance management systems. Q: When did you receive your ASP certification? I believe I was in the first or second group to be certified, after those who developed the certification program and were certified for doing so. Q: At the time, why did you pursue ASP certification? I pursued it on my own. I was president of the local ASP chapter, and I wanted to set an example for the other members of the chapter. I also thought it would be something good to have on my resume, since there were no other certifications in the field of strategic planning. Q: What benefits have you seen from ASP certification? For me, one of the greatest benefits to the certification process was the actual preparation for the exam. Reviewing the books on the recommended reading list that I had not already read expanded my knowledge in the field of strategic planning. I’ve also found that ASP certification adds credibility to the work that I do. My certification is indicated in my email signature and I’ve had clients comment on it.
This has served as a good conversation piece and has opened up discussions about certification and ASP. Q: In preparing for the exam, what resources were most helpful? I sat for the exam before many of the current resources were made available. I recall that the books by Peter Senge and Peter Drucker were especially helpful. Q: Do you have any words of advice for those considering certification? I think it is definitely worthwhile. The process of preparing for the exam is educational. Certification provides a formal way to recognize your expertise, and adds credibility with clients. Guide to the Body of Knowledge 2.0: As was announced at the annual conference, the 2nd edition of the ASPBOK 2.0: Guide to the Strategic Planning and Strategic Management Body of Knowledge has been completed and approved by the board of directors. Watch the ASP website to get a copy to begin preparation for certification exam. Fall 2015 Certification Calendar & Deadlines. Are you considering sitting for the next ASP Certification Exam (November 7 through November 21, 2015)? If so, here are the dates to have on your calendar:
Qualifying Certification Application Deadline(s): o Friday, July 10, 2015 Applicants outside of the US and Canada o Friday, July 31, 2015 Applicants in US and Canada Testing Center Application Deadline(s): o Friday, August 7, 2015 Candidates testing outside of the US or Canada o Friday, August 28, 2015 Candidates testing in the US or Canada
Need more information on Certification? Visit our website: : www.strategyassociation.org (click on the “Certification tab”). For additional questions, email: mailto:certificationprogram@strategyassocation.org
Membership Corner Welcome to new ASP members in May 2015! Members At Large
Isa Albi, C.O.R.E. GROUP INC. Ghazin Shahrani John Manning, U.S. Army Jorge Guedes, SAP Allan Gutierrez Maggie Seeliger, SNC-Lavalin Michael Hay, OMAFRA Mohammed Alfalasi, Dubai Airports Marco Valladares
Boston Chapter:
Paul Joseph, Contexted
Metro New York Chapter:
Katherine Sherratt
National Capital Area Chapter:
Bruce Willis
Maureen Campbell, Department of Defense
Ohio Chapter:
Michael Moss, Society for College and University Planning
Chicago Chapter:
Kim Shelby, DuPont
Career Center Management Consulting Practice Leader Mercadien Closes: August 8, 2015 This is an opportunity to gain valuable insight and experience with a leader in the accounting profession, dedicated to success and Leading by Example. The Mercadien Group is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Click here to visit the ASP Career Center. Note that you must be logged in as a member to access this benefit.
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