™ The script for presentation on strategic thinking:

Matter Manner
Hi, I’m-------------------------------- [Teacher introduces himself]
I daily plan my daily activities which [Teacher introduces the topic]
require a lot of contemplation on my part.
I need to think about different strategies in
order to smoothen them. Everyone needs [Teacher asks a question]
to do the same. Don’t you think so? Why do you think so?
[the student attempts to answer]
As I’ve said that strategic thinking is the
part and parcel of my life since it brings
advantages in the form of increased rate of
success, it can be a nice idea to share it
with you. Are you ready?

Introduction: [The teacher used appropriate accent,

You know well that if you want to reach intonation and gestures in order to
the destination where you want to go, you convince his message forcefully or
have to choose the path that leads to it. If convincingly.]
there is more than one path, you’ve a [Teacher asks a question]
choice about determining which way to • Which logistics are required for
go? You would think about the path which the journey?
is safe and, at the same time, time saving.
Then you take all the logistics required for • What’s the use of the map?
the journey. Then you’ve a map perhaps or
some magnetic needle to show you the
direction, in case you loose your path
while diverting away from it for a while
for drinking water present in the nearby
jungle. This way you preplan your journey
by means of choosing a better path and
necessary requirements in order to be
successful in reaching your destination.
This is what we call preparing a strategy
for the journey. And the thinking
associated with it is regarded as strategic [Teacher asks a question]
thinking. Right? If the path is right, you What if the path is wrong?
would reach your destination successfully.
[Teacher shows the first slide]
This shows that the means of reaching the
destination is as important as the
destination.
This is what Swami Vivekananda said a
century ago. A wrong path always leads us [slide disappears]
astray. That’s why strategic thinking holds
importance since it shows a right path or a
correct alternative way to reach your
destination_ i.e. your success to be precise.
Today, we are going to learn strategic
thinking with its meaning, its drivers and
the resources _ viz. Money, Time, People,
Equipment, Skills_  that form an important
driver of this kind of thinking.
[Teacher shows the 2nd slide]
Strategic thinking means, “Systematical 
planning  for  the  future”.  It  indicates  the 
awareness of_
1. Where you are going
2. Why you are going
3. How you are going. [slide disappears]
We should have strategic thinking for
reducing mistakes and errors while doing
some action with a specific purpose and
increasing success rate by means of
planning. This kind of thinking is used
while planning strategic plans for the
future, and involves many brains that
work together to determine what to
achieve, how to achieve, within how
much time, using what and how many
resources and so on. It connects today
with tomorrow in an organized way and
sets a course of systematic action(s). This
calls for a lot of brain-storming,
approximate consensus and collective
decision-making.

There are four drivers of strategic

thinking. They are: [Teacher shows the 3rd slide]
 1. Vision [Teacher points out each item.]
2. Resources
3. Values
4. Assumptions [yours and your
organization’s]

Let’s deal with them one by one. [Teacher points out “Vision”]
1. Vision:
Do you ever daydream? I hope not
ghosts or fairies as I used to in my [slide disappears]
childhood. Do you ever think_ while
you daydream_ about something
that you want to achieve or
accomplish in your life as a final
goal for self-fulfillment? This is [The class bursts into laughter]
called vision. Vision is the final
accomplishment which is imagined
and decided by the team. Vision
paves way to the mission of the
team which ultimately is responsible
of formation of principles, priorities,
rules and regulations for the overall
team functioning or proceedings.
This stimulates thinking about their
formation by collective discussion
leading towards mutual consensus. • What do you understand by rules?
Remember that without vision, the • Why are they formed?
leader and his team cannot move in
a proper direction and, thus, leads [Teacher points out, “Resources” in
itself astray. the 3rd slide.]
2. Resources: [slide disappears]
They are: [Teacher shows the 4th slide]
a. Money
b. Time [Teacher points out each item.]
c. People
d. Equipment
e. Skills
Let us deal briefly with each of them. [Teacher points out, “Money” in the
a. Money: 4th slide]
 It’s one of the most important
resources one must explore for [Teacher asks a question]
aiding the formation of nearly any • How does your private money
kind of vision, planning and its determine your strategic thinking
execution. You need to think about and planning for the
whether you have enough money to expenditure for running your
realize your strategic goal of the house?
organization or the team you lead.
You have to think how much money [slide disappears]
has been allocated in the budget for
each concerned item and whether
you’ve to add or minimize your
budget. The most important aspect
to be considered is to how to get this
resource.
b. Time: [Teacher points out, “time” in the 4th
Time is similar to money in how we slide]
use it. When we spend time, there is
no improvement in efficiency,
productivity, or effectiveness. The
time is gone without a return. We [slide disappears]
save time when we perform tasks in
less time or with less effort than • Do you think time is money? Why?
previously. We use shortcuts and
processes that streamline activities  • How can you save time?
While a vast majority of people
confesses faltering to come to grips
with time, extremely few can claim
to have made the most of it. How is
it that they have got it all done? It’s
because they have managed a way
to figure out how to manage their
time effectively. It is managing
oneself in relation to time. You
have to think if there is enough
time to reach your goal. You’ve
also to think whether your team
can achieve the goal without
wasting your time.
c. People:
[Teacher points out, “People” in the
 People form the most important 4th slide]
resource and act as an agency to
find proper means to procure and [slide disappears]
transform raw resources into useful
products. They help in strategic
thinking and decision making by • In what way can people help an
means of providing valuable inputs organization in decision making?
or suggestions through meetings,  
presentations, seminars, conferences  
etc. [Teacher points out, “Equipment” in
d. Equipment: the 4th slide]
Do you have the necessary  
equipment to work on and achieve [slide disappears]
the plan? Does your vision require  
updating or purchasing new  
equipments? This is what makes  
you think strategically about
 
attaining your goals in an efficient
[Teacher points out, “skills” in the 4th
manner.
slide]
e. Skills:
 
Skills are important to process the
raw material into useful product or  
products. Skills form an integral part  
of any organizational strategic  
thinking and planning. Skills are  
different for different tasks and can  
be carefully utilized if they are  
formed as the part of strategic  
management. [slide disappears]
 
3. Values: [Teacher shows the 3rd slide and
Values are both personal and points out, “Values”.] 
institutional. The latter are the moral  
principles according to which  
organizational planning and policies
are formed and proceedings are [slide disappears]
made to happen. They are
determined by the mind frame the
team has and ultimately influence
the success rate.
 Today, we have, thus, learnt strategic
thinking with its meaning, its drivers
and the resources_ viz. Money, Time,
People, Equipment, Skills_ that form
an important driver of this kind of
thinking.
4. Assumptions: [Teacher shows the 3rd slide and
They form an integral part of strategic points out, “Assumptions”.]
thinking as they are based on logical
thinking, reasoning, intuition and
experience. We assume certain things
to determine certain probable [slide disappears]
happenings in future. For example, we
assume that our company might grow
5% more the next year by looking at
the rising graph of product sales.
[Teacher concludes]
Conclusion:

Don’t ever forget that Strategic

thinking means, “Systematical planning 
for the future”.  It shows a right path or
a correct alternative way to reach your
destination. So, it’s important to
develop it for being able to plan
strategically and be successful. Any
questions?