Planning Beyond the Horizon: Building a Strategy for High-Stakes Decisions

In 2019, amidst strong growth, an airline company was preparing for a major multi-billion-dollar aircraft investment. But their current planning approach—conducted annually by department—wasn’t enough to support such high-stakes decisions. With an aggressive growth plan in mind, they required a more robust long-range strategy that was grounded on data, aligned across all functions and focused on the most critical projects

Acumen partnered with the airline to design and facilitate a rigorous company-wide planning process. The approach featured:

1. Holistic market and business data to inform decision-making
2. Cross-departmental collaboration to break silos and align on priorities
3. Sharp focus on a few, high-impact initiatives
4. A clear link back to the company’s Purpose and Ambition

The resulting 5-year strategy provided clear direction for the company's leadership, especially when the COVID pandemic shook the entire aviation industry. It served as a north star through crisis, helping leaders focus on what mattered most. With a united plan and shared purpose, the organization was better equipped to respond with clarity and resilience.