Strategic Planning

Knowledge Center

Description of Strategic Planning. Explanation.

Definition Strategic Planning. Description.

Strategic Planning consists of the process of systematically developing and implementing activities and plans to reach the goals, purpose and objectives of the organization within the strategic context (environment).

SP is a continuous process of making present entrepreneurial (risk-taking) decisions systematically and with the greatest knowledge of their futurity; systematically organizing the efforts needed to carry out these decisions. It may or may not also include measuring the results of these decisions against the expectations through organized systematic feedback.

SP involves the application of thought, analysis, imagination and judgment. It is a responsibility rather than a technique. It is the analytic thinking and commitment of resources to action. It deals with the futurity of present decisions.

Strategic Planning versus Strategy

SP is more or less a synonym for Strategy, but the term "planning" has a deliberate meaning attached to it, while "Strategy" can accommodate both the emergent, flexible, dynamic vision to strategy formation as well as the traditional deliberate, intended, military, planned form. In other words, SP is one of the Ten Schools of Thought (The Planning School) as described by Mintzberg. However, In everyday parlance, SP is considered and used as a synonym of strategy.

Types of Strategic Planning

There are quite a few strategic planning types, depending on their:

• LEVEL: Corporate, Division, Strategic Business Unit, Department.
• TIME HORIZON: Long-term, Medium-term, Short-term.
• LEVEL OF DETAIL: Strategic, Tactical, Operational.
• FUNCTIONAL AREA: Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, Production, Logistics, Transportation, HR, Finance, etc.
• SPECIAL TOPIC: Internet, Mobile.

Steps in a Strategic Planning Process

A strategic planning process can take many forms. For the classical steps see Armstrong's Five Strategic Planning Steps.

A strategy process can be more or less deliberate (planned) or emergent (flexible).

Special Interest Group - Strategic Planning Special Interest Group (1372 members)

Forum - Strategic Planning   Here you will find interesting and educational discussions.   Strategy Means Directional Initiatives to Protect And/or Improve your Current Position Today's leaders must be able to impose rapid changes with...           Objectives of Organisation (1 reactions) Any long term planning should clearly relate to the organisa...           Why Strategic Planning is Essential (2 reactions) Unused planning is a wast of time. However, I have found str...           Congruence Model Summary (5 reactions) A business must have a strategy, the strategy must necessari...           Classical Strategic Planning Process Classical strategic planning was a deliberate process in whi...           New Strategic Planning Models (1 reactions) Please if one of you can mention and summarize any new model...           How Leaders See Strategy Reviews (4 reactions) Leaders often want to review their strategy annually by look...           Should Top Managers be Strategists? (1 reactions) The involvement of top managers in the strategic planning pr...           Markets > Vision > Strategy + Execution (5 reactions) First, vision drives strategy and customers and markets driv...           Continuous Planning and Control Strategic planning is seen by many as a process that is perf...           The OGSM Framework (1 reactions) What is OGSM? The OGSM Framework (Objectives - Goals - Stra...           Strategic Planning and Power Someone said a year ago that 8 of each 10 efforts fail in st...           Strategic Planning in an Opportunity for Involvement SP is a great opportunity for the organization to live the s...           Strategic Plans Must be Used and Executed! (4 reactions) I know an organization were top management hired a consultan...           Brand Strategy for a Start-up (1 reactions) How critical it is to include a Brand in the Strategy for a ...           From Traditional to Innovative Strategic Planning (5 reactions) It is high time we shift from the traditional strategic mana...           Strategic Planning Models in Airline Industry (4 reactions) We know every airline has a strategic plan. Why do some ac...           3 Main Activities of Strategic Planning (3 reactions) Simply put, strategic planning determines where an organizat...           Shorten the Time Window of Strategic Plans (1 reactions) Setting goals is extremely important within the strategic fr...           How to Help a Team Carry Out Strategic Planning (2 reactions) How can we help a team carry out a strategic planning exerci...           Overseeing Strategy and Strategic Oversight (1 reactions) Companies find themselves in a fix in times of transformatio...         DEFINITION STRATEGIC PLANNING The word strategy has been circulating in the literature of ...           Goals - Part of the Plan? (3 reactions) In practice in the strategic planning process I include

Best Practices - Strategic Planning Here you will find the most valuable ideas.   Is Strategic Planning Passé? (68 reactions) Is strategic planning in the traditional sense passé? It may...           S T R A T E G Y Acronym (5 reactions) The word STRATEGY if you view it as an acronym is in itself ...           Strategic Planning must be Dynamic (19 reactions) No doubt strategic planning is dynamic. Strategic planning ...           Strategic Thinking versus Operational Thinking? (8 reactions) What is the difference between strategic and operational thi...           Factors in Strategic Decision Making (4 reactions) What are the factors affecting strategic decision making?...           Why do Most Strategic Plans Fail? (12 reactions) According to what some people say, 8 of each 10 efforts fail...           Strategic Planning is about Elimination (5 reactions) Strategy is about knowing what to sacrifice. It is through a...

Expert Tips - Strategic Planning Here you will find high-quality advice from experts.   Strategic Planning versus Strategic Thinking (Mintzberg) Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Emergent Strategy, Deliberate Strategy...

Resources - Strategic Planning Here you will find powerpoint presentations, micro-learning videos and further information sources. Introduction to Strategic Planning and The ABCDE Model Strategic Planning, ABCDE Model, SWOT Analysis, Corporate Mission, Strategic Vision...   Top 5 Strategy Pitfalls Strategy Errors, Strategy Traps, Strategy Barriers, Strategic Planning, Strategy Process...   7 Steps for Creating a Strategic Business Plan Strategic Planning, Strategic Management, Business Planning, Business Plan...   Overview of a Strategic Planning Process Initial Understanding of a Strategic Planning Process...   Conducting a Strategy Review (Strategic Review). Types and Tips Strategy Review, Strategic Management, Strategy Process...     News about Strategic Planning         Videos about Strategic Planning         Presentations about Strategic Planning         Books about Strategic Planning         More about Strategic Planning

Compare with: Five Forces  |  Core Competence  |  Deliberate Strategy  |  Emergent Strategy  |  Hoshin Kanri - Policy Deployment  |  Strategic Analysis

Return to Management Hub: Strategy

More on Management  |  Return to Management Dictionary  | 

This ends our Strategic Planning summary and forum.