By Tatev Avagyan
January 30, 2025
These days, everything seems to center around AI and predictions about how it will reshape the software development industry - and humanity as a whole. Yet, I still believe having a strategic plan matters (at least for now!)
When I was just starting my career, the idea of a strategic plan felt too strict, like something that would lock a company into a fixed 3-5 year path. More often than not, these plans ended up being just plans, that would only be revisited at the end of the year to see how reality measured up against expectations. This approach led many entrepreneurial minds to question the necessity of strategic planning, preferring to rely on instinct and adaptability instead.
On the other hand, there were systematic thinkers - those who believed strategy should drive every decision rather than the other way around. But over the past two decades, that mindset has been challenged too. The pace of change forces us to constantly adjust to global shifts that may already be outdated by the time we fully embrace them. Even those who once advocated for long-term planning now hesitate.
Then, there's the middle ground - where I find myself. I believe a strategic plan is essential, but it shouldn't be a fixed document; rather, it should be a living guide. Unlike a traditional rulebook, a good strategy should be adaptable, regularly updated to reflect both external and internal changes (including those gut feelings we all rely on from time to time). It should keep us focused on our goals - yes, even those that evolve over time - and align our actions toward achieving them.
Why I believe in formalized strategic plans
Even though strategies evolve, I still find tremendous value in formalized planning (just because they have worked so far). For me, having a structured approach allows me to:
P.S. As we, at Team Solutions, dive into our strategic planning for the upcoming year and beyond, I wanted to share these thoughts with my team - and perhaps with others who find themselves in the same boat.