Strategic planning refers to the process by which an organization maps out its economic future, and the steps by which it will achieve its business purpose over time. This process typically considers four factors: internal Strengths and Weaknesses, and external Opportunities and Threats (SWOT being the common acronym). It also identifies the goals, functions, priorities, and resources that will be necessary to achieve its purpose. Over the last half century there have been at least six major swings or phases in strategic planning (see Fastpaths 1995, Koch) and the paradigm march continues. Where training tends to function at the managerial level and organizational development at the executive level, strategic planning tends to occur at the boardroom level.
1962 | Alfred Chandler: Strategy and Structure. One of the first major books in the field, defined strategy as setting long-term goals and objectives, determining a course of action, and allocating resources to achieve those goals. |
1980 | Michael Porter: Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Porter remains an academic phenomenon to this day, but is difficult to access for the uninitiated. |
1982 | Kenichi Ohmae: The Mind of the Strategies: The Art of Japanese Business. Still one of the best explanations of how strategy plays out in the real world. |
1988 | John Bryson: Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement. |
1994 | Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad: Competing for the Future. |
1994 | Henry Mintzberg: The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning: Reconceiving Roles for Planning, Plans, Planners. |
1995 | Marvin Weisbord: Future Search: An Action Guide to Finding Common Ground in Organizations and Communities. |
1995 | Richard Koch: The Financial Times Guide to Strategy: How to Create and Deliver a Useful Strategy. A superb book for the beginner as well as intermediate practitioner. Koch, with great lucidity, explains not only the theory but also the practice, including a do-it-yourself guide in Part I. Concludes with an A to Z of strategic thinkers, tools and techniques, and concepts and definitions. A great book to start with. |
1997 | Sumantra Ghoshal and Christopher Bartlett: The Individualized Organization. Stresses people, processes, and purpose. |
2002 | Tony Manning: Making Sense of Strategy. Manning addresses the philosophy, products, positioning, and partners that go into strategic planning. A clear, brief exposition of the topic. |
See also Organizational Development