Strategic Implementation: Resource Planning and Structures

1. Part 4 Unit 10 Strategy Preparation, Resource Planning and Structures

2. Reading

3. Part 4: Strategic Implementation • The final stage of tourism risk analysis and strategy is strategic implementation. By the end of part 4 it should be possible to construct a plan to operationalise a strategy for a tourism organisation, systematically monitor that strategy and create a comprehensive strategy document. • Strategic implementation follows logically from the previous three stages where an appropriate strategy has been selected from a number of options after a comprehensive situational analysis of the tourism organisation. • Chapter 10 discusses the detail of implementation in terms of financial, physical and human resources. • Chapter 11 examines the management of change and reviews methods of control and evaluation of strategy. • Chapter 12 concludes. At its centre is a guide on how to write and present a strategy document and this is followed by a look at crisis management

5. After studying this chapter and related materials you should be able to understand: Resource planning Formulation of a coordinating plan and critically evaluate, explain and apply the above concepts. Learning Outcomes

6. Discussion Point What are the key resources that a destination would need to achieve competitive advantage? What risk factors would be associated with investment in a new aiport?

7. The evaluation stage of the strategy process involved analysis of the feasibility of an option in terms of finance and availability of resources. At the implementation stage, resource planning is concerned with identification of resources resource fit, and formulation of a co-ordinating plan Resource Planning

8. Physical resources A change in strategic direction will generally require adjustments in physical resources at the level of plant and machinery or consumables. A tourism organisation may have a dedicated purchasing department to co-ordinate the buying of physical resources. Important considerations in physical resources planning include: Specification - This may involve a careful audit of the uses to which physical resources are to be put. The result will be a list of required specifications. Fitness for purpose - This will examine the match between the specifications offered and the specifications required Cost - Prices between suppliers need to be compared, taking into account running and maintenance costs. Terms - Is it more appropriate to lease or buy capital goods? Identification of resources

9. Human resources Strategic implementation will have consequences for human resources, and manpower planning will need to address: manpower numbers skills recruitment and selection, and, training and development grading and remuneration Identification of resources

10. Information and technology resources Information and technology competence may be obtained by In-house development Purchase from external providers for internal use Contracting out of services Alliances Acquisition of organisations that possess the desired technology Identification of resources

11. A co-ordinating plan is a key to strategic implementation. It comprises the following elements project logistics, (planning) project objectives (operations) Management by Objectives (MBO) can be an important contributor to strategic implementation. First MBO helps to clarify the strategy - what does the strategy mean in terms of measurable performance targets? Second, MBO, assists implementation since this now becomes attributable to personnel who have been assigned specific tasks. Formulation of a coordinating plan

12. Part 4 Unit 10 Strategy Preparation, Resource Planning and Structures The End