Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Strategic planning is a deliberative, disciplined approach to producing fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization (or other entity) is, what it does, and why it does it. Strategic planning is not a substitute for strategic thinking, acting, and learning, or for leadership. Instead, strategic planning is a leadership tool meant to enhance strategic thinking, acting, and learning. Strategic planning can produce several benefits, but there is no guarantee that it will. There are a variety of approaches to strategic planning; some approaches emphasize process, while others emphasize content. Strategic management is a broader concept that links planning and implementation.