The IPA Strategy Group are delighted that the IPA's first app is now available on the iTunes store.

Sponsored by the guys at News International, and developed by We Are Apps, the app does what it says on the digital tin... gives you a zippy boost in a different direction if you're facing the dreaded Planners Block.

It's stuffed full of tips from the great and the good of strategy and planning...

And, what's more, you can submit your own tips straight into the App too, which after being run past the keen eyes of the Strategy Group will make it into the app with every update.

So there you go, without doubt the best way to get decades of IPA planning and strategy in your pocket - get downloading now.

Currently it's just on iPhone and iPad, but we are looking at an other operating system versions next should there be demand...

Way, way back in the mists of time (well, 2008), there was such a thing as the IPA Fast Strategy cards.  

Look, it must have been a long time ago, the image I have has gone all sepia...

Well then, what do all of our resolutions tell us about the year to come?  There were thirteen form the Strategy Group, and then a further twenty-four from the comments underneath.  Yes, I know, sample size may be an issue... but since when did we let sample size get in the way of a good story?*

At first glance, there's a clear hint from the language used what's important to the planning fraternity; people, data and time.

For all the wild and wonderful technologies and media we're all getting stuck into day in, day out, it's heartening to see that there's still a realisation that it doesn't mean diddly squat if you aren't thinking about the people at the heart of what we do; we connect companies with people, to put it simply.  

So we're all wanting to improve our understanding of people...

"to spend more time with people and less time with computers"

"spend more meaningful time with people, in the real world"

"develop my understanding of why and how people do things the way they do"

Second up, data.  No surprises about that, really... we've probably all sat and thought about just what might be possible if we had access to the right data, the time to play around with it, or could find that crucial link between data and behaviour.  There's also an acknowledgement that, as your mother used to say, if you do it too often you'll go (data)blind...

"use data to better understand where my users are, what content that are accessing, and how they are accessing it to plan better digital communications - not just offer unsuspecting consumers a free meal."

 "to spend less time submerged in data...more time taking risks"

"be more conscious of the unseen data we already collect, to construct communications ideas that generate data and are powered by data"

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there's a lot about time; the time we have, or don't have, and what we should do to make the most of it.  There's are some people who want to isolate some precious time to think about things a little more carefully, or just find some inspiration, and others are keen to make the most of their time by making things, and learning along the way.

"If you don't shoot, you don't score".  A.Hansen 1994.  Just have a go.

"Less thinking, more doing.  Less 'how', more 'wow'.  Less planning, more improvising."

"Keep your mind empty, keep your body busy, only think when you have to, have as much fun as you can."

In fact, if you do have the time, perhaps pop over to the BBH Labs blog to have a wee read of this post on making while you think and thinking while you make...

Welcome to 2011 - It's a new year and a new collection of folks on the IPA Strategy Group. With all these new beginnings, here are our resolutions for what we want to do differently, do better this year.

Glyn Britton, Albion: " To be more conscious of the unseen data that we already collect, to construct communications ideas that generate data and are powered by data. To analyze data in interesting and actionable ways. To build tools that put data firmly at the heart of our business."

Martin Bailie, Glue: "Find un-interupted thinking space on a daily basis - so no phone, internet and the like as they are doing my head in!"

Zaid Al-Zaidy, TBWA: "To browse less and read more"

Sarah Watson, DDB: "To go back and get even closer to human truths"

John Willshire, PHD: "Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought"

Paticia McDonald, CHI: "Balance the brilliance and stimulus of the real-time web with some time for longer form content and contemplation"

Tom Morton, Publicis: "Not to reorganise the business, but aim to do good around it."

Ed Ling, MEC: "I will look to leverage data to unlock great insight"

Sam D'amato, M2M: "To get our clients to think more about real time planning and the role of ongoing communications"

Andreas Moellmann, Sapient Nitro: "Bring more strategy (understanding people, research, brand thinking, long term view, results)  into digital and more digital into strategy."

Amelia Torode, VCCP: "To open the hood more and get my hands dirty, technologically-speaking"

Richard Huntingdon, Saatchi & Saatchi: "To fight against corporate wishful thinking and brand bureauracy in the search for truth, simplicity and ideas people might give a shit about."

We'd love to hear your new year planning resolution, call it a digital snapshot of the ambitions and hopes of the planning community. In December we'll see how many of us actually managed to keep them...

Happy new year all!