Benefits of Strategic Planning

"Strategic planning is the process by which the guiding members of an organization envision its future and develop the necessary procedures and operations to achieve that future" (Goodstein, Nolan, & Pfeiffer, 1992). It is an iterative process, with no clear beginning or ending point. It can be viewed much like a
merry-go-round. What an organization does first depends upon where it "gets on."

The purpose of strategic planning is to transform the organization. Strategic planning helps leaders to:

• Create their own organization's future
  
• Provide a framework and a focus for improvement efforts
  
• Optimize organizational systems
  
• Provide guidance for day-to-day decisions
  
• Provide a learning opportunity for top leaders
  
• Build a "critical mass"
  
• Provide a means for assessing progress