| there is a common understanding and agreement as | | | | target can then be quantified using SMART |
| to what the opportunity and project is about. | | | | objectives (the acronym stands for Specific, |
| One method of achieving this is called | | | | Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timelined).o The |
| Situation-Target-Proposal or STP for short. | | | | third step is to produce a Proposal or Plan for getting |
| The STP is a succinct and accurate statement that | | | | from where you are now to where you want to be |
| describes the current Situation, paints the vision of | | | | (the target).o The fourth step is to summarise all of |
| the Target, and lists the proposed elements to move | | | | this into a succinct statement that encapsulates your |
| from the current Situation to the Target. In other | | | | current situation, the target for where you want to |
| words, the STP is a succinct way to communicate | | | | be and your outline plan for getting there. |
| the current state, a vision for the desired state, and | | | | Here is an example. |
| the key elements of a plan necessary to move from | | | | Problem definition: The cost of providing homecare |
| the current to the envisioned state. | | | | services to older people in the County is more than |
| The STP also deals with incentives to move away | | | | the budget available. |
| FROM an as-is state and incentives to move TO a | | | | Situation: 25 homecare suppliers used. Average spend |
| to-be state. | | | | with them is £150,000. Average profit margin is 6%. |
| The specific steps in forming your STP are:-o | | | | The County accounts for no more than 5% of any |
| Brainstorm and list everything you know about the | | | | supplier's business. Average quality rating is |
| current situation. This includes how much you spend | | | | "adequate." |
| and with whom, known supply problems, upcoming | | | | Target: Achieve same range and quantity of home |
| changes in legislation etc. This is done with your | | | | care services in the next 12 months for 10% less |
| project team colleagues and is a pooling of all of your | | | | cost than now. Improve average quality rating to |
| current knowledge - it doesn't require collecting any | | | | "good." |
| new information (that comes later).o Set a Target. | | | | Proposal: Produce a category strategy that reduces |
| As the name suggests, The target is a description of | | | | the number of suppliers used to increase the value of |
| where you want to be. You should be careful here in | | | | the County's account to them but commensurate |
| not jumping to a solution to the situation and calling it | | | | with achieving defined outcomes. Implement quality |
| a target. So, for example, if your situation is that you | | | | improvement programme. |
| have no money, a target is not to get a better paid | | | | Do you want to learn more about gaining |
| job (that is a solution) but to become wealthier. The | | | | procurement skills? |