Report :

The activities of the workshop were divided into three stages: the first and the second (7April -21 June 2008), which were based on e-learning through a number of conversational forums, working papers, and reports. Among the most important things we have learnt from this stage are: the basic principles for strategic planning, the process of planning, planning tools, the different means for creating a plan and prioritizing. During this stage we gained knowledge about the different economic systems (the market economy, planned economy, and mixed economy), socialism and planning, controlled markets, and planning processes. This stage was mainly characterized by the interaction among the participants, and among the participants and the facilitators. This is in addition to the serious competition among the participants, and the race to reach the third and most important stage. Therefore, this was the most complex and profound phase in terms of information, perspectives, and ideas, which was very useful to all in terms of understanding strategic planning in the respective countries of participants. Moreover, the relationships among the participants were deepened in preparation for the third stage.

Upon the completion of the first and second stage, the third stage started (22nd June - 6th July 2008), this workshop was conducted in the city of Gummersbach in Germany, and attended by the selected activists from the first and second stages. The third stage addressed strategic planning in depth through intensifying knowledge about strategic planning; identifying strategic planning closely (history, theory, definitions, terms, and principles); and understanding the definition of strategic planning. We also learnt the most prominent strategies in management and politics through strategic thinking, communication, and alliances. The seminar also addressed the implementation of a strategy through procedures of planning, monitoring, and evaluation; and the planning of the strategy of practice through formulating model strategies for political parties, businesses, and NGOs.

This stage was not a traditional workshop, but an interactive and active one. It was conducted by delivering rich presentations during the morning sessions that utilized the method of discussion among the participants and the presenters. The presentations were followed by work groups to discuss the points learnt through selecting a number of cases from the countries of the participants to make the training more realistic and relevant, which facilitated the process of understanding and benefit. As much as the seminar relied on information, data, and case studies, it also relied on some field visits to prominent institutions, as well as identifying their strategic plan and the mechanisms of implementation. Among the most outstanding institutions visited was Airbus for the manufacturing of aircrafts. The visit was not only a practical one, but also a field visit to the institution including actual witnessing of the process of manufacturing of aircrafts from the beginning up to completion. There was another field visit to the College of Leadership and Commandership of the German Military, to get introduced to the security and strategic policy management. There was another visit to an advertisement and publicity company. In addition to the study tours, the seminar also included entertaining tours to the cities of Hamburg and Cologne, where the activities of the workshop were held.