The mutual development of strategies creates a culture of dialogue and a common language
A constructive dissent
Strategy development is a project that requires a clear project organization. A process of constructive controversy should take place in the project team – only consent coming from dissent is good.
The prerequisite of a productive dialogue is that the composition of the strategy team should be varied (key persons from different levels of hierarchy, functions, regions), to make the best use of the existing knowledge.
As strenuous as the clash of different perceptions and experiences can be in the beginning, the more valuable it will be when strategic considerations and options are enriched and based on real experience (with customers) rather than on numbers.
A common language and the learning organization
This dialogue, this debate has to take place. Organizations only achieve this if a process and corresponding committees exist, meet regularly and adopt and approve topics.
This approach creates a common language in the organization. The meaning of terms and definitions become unambiguous and based on the common understanding of problems and solutions confidence can develop.
Therefore this joint development and design for the future is an integral part of a learning organization.
An important side effect of this dialogue on senior management level is that members that initially focused on their own area of responsibility start to jointly shape the future and evaluate each individual contribution in the course of the process.