An Analysis of the Strategic Planning Process:: Traditional Approaches and New Perspectives

Strategic planning and analysis tools have been the subject of much scholastic debate over the last 20 years. A strategy is the vital foundation that holds a business together. A company’s strategies give direction to the organization, determine its structure, the activities engaged, resources deployed and ultimately, its organizational performance. Given the importance and complexity of this activity, one would expect to find a literature in which there is a general agreement as to its significant characteristics and dimensions. Such is not the case. Thus, this book aims to provide an overview of major work that has been carried out in this area and also highlight the divergence between the numerous schools of thoughts. The assimilation of these perspectives and viewpoints should enhance the reader’s understanding of what strategic planning is and is not, thereby contributing to higher levels of awareness on why one approach is inadequate for the task of managing an organization in today’s complex business environment.