Strategic planning
Assignment 3 “Strategic Planning is inextricably interwoven into the entire fabric of management; it is not something separate and distinct from the process of management” (Steiner, 1979:7).
In simpler terms, Steiner goes on further to explain how Strategic Planning is an organizational management activity. This activity is used in order to set priorities, focus energy, strengthen operations, ensure common goals are met, establish agreement around intended outcomes/results, and assesses/adjust the organization 's direction in response to a changing environment. Mintzberg, (2000) denotes that when strategic planning arrived on the scene, in the mid 1960’s, corporate leaders embraced it as “the one best way” to devise and implement strategies that would enhance the competitiveness of each business unit.
Throughout this essay, empirical evidence along with sound academic theories will be used in order to critically analyse the topic of Strategic Planning. Furthermore, alternative technique’s adopted by other business’ will then also be identified and analysed, before concluding this essay by discussing ‘the best’ technique for Business to apply, and why.
According to work by Dettmer, (2003) Mintzberg et al originally identified 10 schools of strategic thought, with each individual school differing in its assumptions, characteristics and areas of emphasis. Dettmer elaborates on Mintzberg’s theory and explains how the first 3 schools are quite different to the remaining 7, these schools are the design, planning and positioning schools of thought. These specific schools are said to be prescriptive, deliberate and largely objective.
With this is mind, it is clear to see that Strategic planning falls into mintzberg’s ‘Planning’ school of thought as it is described as a formal process, by which,
“A rigorous set of steps are taken, from the analysis situation to the execution of the strategy” (Pettigrew and Thomas et al, 2002:423)
With over 275 companies
In simpler terms, Steiner goes on further to explain how Strategic Planning is an organizational management activity. This activity is used in order to set priorities, focus energy, strengthen operations, ensure common goals are met, establish agreement around intended outcomes/results, and assesses/adjust the organization 's direction in response to a changing environment. Mintzberg, (2000) denotes that when strategic planning arrived on the scene, in the mid 1960’s, corporate leaders embraced it as “the one best way” to devise and implement strategies that would enhance the competitiveness of each business unit.
Throughout this essay, empirical evidence along with sound academic theories will be used in order to critically analyse the topic of Strategic Planning. Furthermore, alternative technique’s adopted by other business’ will then also be identified and analysed, before concluding this essay by discussing ‘the best’ technique for Business to apply, and why.
According to work by Dettmer, (2003) Mintzberg et al originally identified 10 schools of strategic thought, with each individual school differing in its assumptions, characteristics and areas of emphasis. Dettmer elaborates on Mintzberg’s theory and explains how the first 3 schools are quite different to the remaining 7, these schools are the design, planning and positioning schools of thought. These specific schools are said to be prescriptive, deliberate and largely objective.
With this is mind, it is clear to see that Strategic planning falls into mintzberg’s ‘Planning’ school of thought as it is described as a formal process, by which,
“A rigorous set of steps are taken, from the analysis situation to the execution of the strategy” (Pettigrew and Thomas et al, 2002:423)
With over 275 companies
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