Strategic Assumptions Toolkit
Strategic assumptions create the foundation for strategy development by clarifying leaders’ best-informed expectations about the forces most likely to shape the organization over the next 2 to 5 years. This toolkit provides guidance and a worksheet to help teams define, prioritize, and regularly refresh assumptions so plans stay relevant in a fast-changing environment.
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Align on a shared view of the future
Turn uncertainty into clarity by documenting leadership’s best-informed expectations about the forces shaping your planning horizon.
Cover the 8 assumption categories
Use the SHSMD framework to address key categories like demographics, workforce, consumers, competitors, payers, physicians, employers, and financial performance.
Prioritize and stress-test decisions
Identify your top assumptions, rate likelihood and impact, and use them to stress-test goals, strategies, and contingencies over time.