Implementation of strategic planning in church ministry
Description
This restricted item is available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary through the URI below.
Abstract
This dissertation explores the relationship between strategy execution and its impact on church leadership as indicated by the church's growth or non-growth. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the context, research problem and research questions.
Chapter 2 begins with a biblical and theological basis for strategy. The latter portion of this chapter reviews the literature on strategy planning and implementation.
Chapter 3 explains the methodology for the study. This chapter includes an overview of the development of the instrument and the procedural steps followed in completing the research project.
Chapter 4 presents an analysis of the findings from the study. A variety of tables and figures are used to present the data from the study.
Chapter 5 presents a review of the data from the study, highlighting various implications and applications for ministry.
While strategy planning is viewed as important by many, and some would say that it is essential, others have lost faith in this process because they have not seen the results promised from embracing strategy planning. This study explores the importance of strategy planning and implementation, but focuses on strategy implementation instead of strategy formulation.
Studies have shown that CEO failures are often linked to poor strategy execution rather than poor strategy. In fact, only a small percentage of strategy gets implemented. This concern for strategy execution is beginning to grow in the field of business, and seems to have many benefits if explored in the context of church ministry.
With the overall picture of the American church in either a plateaued or declining position, it is believed that a lack of strategy execution is a part of the problem. This study draws on the literature of strategic management with a focus on strategy implementation. The study is designed around the principles of this discipline and explored in the context of the church to uncover any principles that may aid the church, through empowered leaders, to move out of its declining position.