Strategy in schools from direction to plan

There are a large number of strategic management tools that can be applied by educational leaders to improve their schools. With few exceptions, nearly every new management tool that is introduced will produce worthwhile benefits of some kind if it is used in the prescribed manner. However, different tools provide different information to leaders. The most important factor affecting the implementation of such tools is using the correct tools for the correct purpose. Certain tools assist in the identification of problems within the school (brainstorming, affinity diagrams), others help in the analysis of causes (interrelationship graphs, nominal group technique, multi-voting), some assist in the study of the current systems (surveys, deployment flowcharts, frequency charts, control charts), and others in the evaluation and assessment of implemented strategies (perception analysis, run chart, pareto graph, plus/delta). Applying strategic management tools at the appropriate times in the strategic process allows the school team to continue to move the school towards its desired future state.