Week 7 - The One where Terence learnt that Strategies and Tactics weren't just confined to soccer.

Strategy is defined in the dictionary as a plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result. In the world of PR, it is no different with strategies needed to ensure the best possible outcome for the organization in its message conveyance to its stakeholders.

Usually done right at the start, during the planning process of a campaign, a strategy helps to map out the best possible methods and variables in achieving the main objective of the client/organization.

Two aspects of obtaining a great strategy are:

• SWOT, meanwhile, is known as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and is usually used in analysis of a PR campaign.

• SMART, or rather, Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Results-orientated and Timeframe, is a set of measures implemented into the objectives-planning.

While I haven't been involved with anything PR-esque before, I did learn about these two terms in my life previously, as a student leader in my polytechnic as well as a Platoon Sergeant in the millitary.

Whether it be planning events for the student body in the polytechnic or utilizing the soldiers under me to execute the best tactics to help my battalion win the war, SMART and SWOT plays a huge part.

SWOT assess the possibilities and limitations of a campaign while SMART helps to ensure that a plan does not veer too far off the designated path while.

A SWOT analysis is particularly important as subsequent steps further on in the execution process might have to be based on this analysis, done at the start of a campaign.

In the readings, it is said that a strategy is developed through analysing the results of thorough research.

A wise man once said "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."...as such, strategy is particular important in ensure proper planning and due diligence is done in the execution of a successful PR campaign.

Onward and Forward to the next class...

Terence..OUT