Read: Action 4: A strategic scenario

Sometimes there's a need for a strategy for one issue. Sometimes  more groups can work temporarily together to achieve related goals, in more complex influencing processes. We call this a multiple-issue strategy or a strategic scenario.

A strategic scenario is a planned approach of complex (macro) goals. It implies a cooperation of several participants, networks and potential fellow combatants, taking into account future developments: a strategic alliance. To some extent the strategic scenario differs from the 'normal' one-issue strategy.

• The goal of a strategic scenario is defined in a more open-ended way and is not fully operationalized. It is a global goal, it indicates a direction of change. It can be broken down into several sub goals, which can be made concrete and measurable.
• It is important in formulating such a goal to take account of trends, and to anticipate on future developments. An effective goal tries to ride the wave of a certain development nationally or internationally.
• The start of a strategic scenario lies with the potential supporters instead of in defining the decision makers. A strategic scenario depends on a number of different people/organizations cooperating on a specific issue, towards a common goal, during a specific time - and being prepared to put away their differences in the meantime.
• In the one-issue strategy the first thing is to formulate the goals, and the next step is finding fellow organisations who can help realise the goal. In a strategic scenario the identification of potential support groups is the starting point. After that, those supporters can, in dialogue, formulate the goals which suit them and which fit the more general strategic direction. The presence of networks, alliances and potential co-workers is a good setting for achieving such a strategic scenario.
• The next important question is the necessity for coordination. The strength of a strategic scenario is the cumulative effect and timing of a lot of actors who try to achieve their own sub goals. By good timing, a common direction, cooperation when and where necessary, and a good system of communication the strategic scenario is likely to work.
• Success depends on:
  • sufficient fellow groups who can be motivated to do their part of the job (mobilize support and enthusiasm)
  • coordination, cooperation, timing
  • trends, mainstream currents which help or at least don't hinder too much.

A strategic scenario can be prepared by following the checklist:

CHECKLIST STRATEGIC SCENARIO

1. the problem

• description of the problem - in main features
• why is this a problem just now and for whom ?
• what is happening at this moment to tackle/solve the problem
• key factors for success and bottlenecks in the solutions uptill now

2. the umbrella objective

• global objective
• is there any support for this objective ?
  • is the objective feasible ?
  • is the objective inspiring ?

3. the analysis

• What actual trends and developments in society support this goal?
• What actual trends and developments in society work against this goal?

4. the power relations

• Which persons and parties are having interest in keeping the problem the way it is and who has/have interest in changing the situation/solving the problem ?
• which persons have direct or indirect influence on the problem or are able to partially solve the problem ?
  (think of political parties, civil servants, administrators, advisory council, trade unions, professional organisations action groups, media, research institutes etc.)
• Global impression of the relations of power: who are the persons who decide, allies, intermediates ? What sorts of power do they have towards each other ?

5. the allies

• What parties and persons
  • are backing the global umbrella objective?
  • have enough self interest to formulate their own sub goal and under the umbrella objective ?
  • are approachable as allies in the strategic scenario ?

6. the sub goals

Per ally/alliance/network of allies:

• formulate a sub goal under the umbrella of the global objective. (criteria: specific, measurable, feasible and inspiring)
• what's the relation between the sub goal and the main-global goal ?
• who is the decision maker for the sub goal and chooses via which strategy this sub goal might be reached
• what effect might this chosen strategy have on the global objective ?

7. the feasibility

Looking at the umbrella objective:

• are there enough and the right allies ?
• is there enough and the correct information, strategical expertise and skills among those allies ?

8. the organisation of the strategic scenario

• how is the communication organised between the allies (exchanging information, cooperation, successes and constraints)
• who takes care for keeping the umbrella objective in mind ?
• who takes care for external publicity ?