Strategic Planning

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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 (1414 members)

Forum - Strategic Planning   In the forum section you will find recent discussions within this knowledge area.   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...           How Leaders See Strategy Reviews (4 reactions) Leaders often want to review their strategy annually by look...           New Strategic Planning Models (1 reactions) Please if one of you can mention and summarize any new model...           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...           The OGSM Framework (1 reactions) What is OGSM? The OGSM Framework (Objectives - Goals - ...           Continuous Planning and Control Strategic planning is seen by many as a process that is perf...           Brand Strategy for a Start-up (1 reactions) How critical it is to include a Brand in the Strategy for a ...           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...           Strategic Planning and Power Someone said a year ago that 8 of each 10 efforts fail in st...           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 som...           How to Help a Team Carry Out Strategic Planning (2 reactions) How can we help a team carry out a strategic planning exerci...           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...           Overseeing Strategy and Strategic Oversight (1 reactions) Companies find themselves in a fix in times of transformatio...           Goals - Part of the Plan? (3 reactions) In practice in the strategic planning process I include

Best Practices - Strategic Planning In the best practices section you will find the best forum discussions within this knowledge area.   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 plann...           Strategic Thinking versus Operational Thinking? (8 reactions) What is the difference between strategic and operational thi...           Why do Most Strategic Plans Fail? (12 reactions) According to what some people say, 8 of each 10 efforts fail...           Factors in Strategic Decision Making (4 reactions) What are the factors affecting strategic decision making?...           Strategic Planning is about Elimination (5 reactions) Strategy is about knowing what to sacrifice. It is through a...

Expert Tips - Strategic Planning In the expert tips section you will find advices from experts within this knowledge area.   Strategic Planning versus Strategic Thinking (Mintzberg) Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Emergent Strategy, Deliberate Strategy...

Resources - Strategic Planning In the Resources section you will find powerpoint presentations, micro-learning videos, articles, news items, etc. within this knowledge area. 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...   Roger Martin: Five Key Choices of Strategy Initial Understanding of Strategy...   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

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This ends our Strategic Planning summary and forum.