Strategic planning for the public sector and state-owned companies

Posted on June 12, 2015

“A good deal of corporate planning is like a ritual rain dance. It has no effect on the weather that follows but those who engage in it think it does. Moreover, much of the advice and instructions related to corporate planning is directed to improving the dance, not the weather.”

 – Quinn.

 

Business Enterprises at University of Pretoria Pty Ltd (BE at UP) hosted its first business breakfast for state-owned companies to showcase the expertise that the company possesses in the areas of corporate strategy and planning. This inaugural breakfast hosted on Friday 22 May 2015 addressed strategic planning processes within the public sector and state-owned companies.

                           

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Andre Parker, South African’s leading strategy thought leader and facilitator, who works closely with Professor Henry Grimbeek, an industry renowned human resource leader and subject expert, from the University of Pretoria. Dr Parker’s discussion highlighted some of the challenges in terms of the implementation of strategies including the lack of understanding of the tools currently used for strategic planning.

 

As a solution to the above, Dr Parker and Prof Grimbeek’s revolutionary Mindjet Mindmanager strategy and planning technology was presented. This creative innovation takes a unique approach to strategy formulation, integrating corporate strategy planning and aligning it with performance management systems. To date, it has seen great improvements in the strategy developments of many companies, including the Council for Geoscience, who were represented at the breakfast to present a case study on the effectiveness of this revolutionary tool.

 

“This approach, which aligns corporate strategies with performance management systems works wonders,” said Suzanne Poorter of the Council of Geoscience. She shared how Mindjet Mindmanager has simplified and improved strategic planning for the Council by bringing “better understanding of the elements involved in strategy development. This created excitement about the future of the company due to better planning that helps create attainable goals. It is easy to use, easy to maintain and invaluable to the organisation as we have truly seen the benefits thereof,” said Poorter.

 

Ms Rene Kenosi, an auditor by trade, addressed the audience on the link between strategic planning and Annual Performance Plans (APPs). She indicated the positive contribution that sound strategic planning has on the ability to successfully complete and achieve APP’s.

 

The attendants of the business breakfast included representatives from the Technology Innovation Agency, South African Forestry Company Limited, Brand South Africa and the South African Qualifications Authority. They had the opportunity to meet with the executives from BE at UP, including the CEO, Mr Deon Herbst and the General Manager, Dr Elmar de Wet. Needless to say, all attendants walked away with a wealth of knowledge and a better understanding of the makings of a successful corporate strategy.

 

The breakfast session was concluded with an indication about how BE at UP can assist organisations to support them with strategy and planning endeavours. For more information, email [email protected] or call 012 434 2300.

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences