ABSTRACT
The intellectual challenge for the guiding members of Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd (DBCT P/L) was addressed via the development of an 'applied strategic planning process'. The successful operation of a coal terminal adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was in itself a noteworthy achievement. The initial reaction reflected the undoubted pride and sense of achievement that pervaded the organization. The achievements in establishing the Terminal, its subsequent operation and expansion during testing times, both technical and natural, were coupled with an appreciation of the natural environment of the area and the lifestyle offered. The challenge for the Executive Management Team (EMT) was to: recognise that the changing world would require the application of the skills and learning from the past, in a very different environment. The maturity of the EMT in both developing the process and pursuing the process to develop Operating Principles demonstrated the correctness of focussing on the 'process of planning'.
