Forest Products Engineers renewed their strategy with Fountain Park
When the strategy process for the period 2020-2025 was considered, it was clear that it should be broadly inclusive and forward-looking.
A modern strategy for a traditional organization
Forest Products Engineers is an organization with more than a hundred years of tradition, where professionals and companies in the bioforest industry build a responsible wood-based society using the latest technologies. The expanding network includes 2,700 highly qualified professionals and about 50 corporate members. The purpose of the activity is to develop wood processing expertise, increase interest in the field and act as an international leader.
Co-creation at the heart of a diverse process
When the strategy process for the period 2020-2025 started, it was clear that it should be broadly inclusive and forward-looking. In the organization, the members are always involved in decision-making through its elected representatives. However, there was a desire to involve members directly in the strategy process because:
- All ideas broaden perspectives and help ensure that as many different perspectives as possible are considered
- This brings all members closer to the organization
- Participating in the process will help to understand the final strategy
- In matters of evaluation and valuation, the wisdom of crowds usually helps to find the right solutions
Although the project was planned and launched before the pandemic began, it was designed to be diverse and digital from the start. In addition to Fountain Park’s Strategy Dialogue, facilitated workspaces and remote workshops involving members, committees and the board were used as tools. The results of the phases were further processed according to plan until the entire package was ready for formal adoption at the annual meeting. The activity of the membership was gratifying, and there were more than five hundred participations in the Strategy Dialogues.
Towards bioeconomy solutions with effective measures
The process started with a reflection on the operating environment and the industry impact of megatrends in many different future ideas, the selection of strategic priorities, the validation of measures, and finally a clear action plan defining objectives, priorities, and actions to be strengthened. The compatibility of the vision and mission of the Forest Products Engineers with the changing world was also ensured. With these measures, the traditional organization will continue its successful journey into the decade of bioeconomy.
