Organizations of all sizes and types, from Fortune 500 companies to grassroots non-governmental organizations, periodically turn to strategic planning to reconnect with their core values, articulate their mission and chart goals and objectives to help them achieve their long-term vision. Strategic planning has been defined as a systematicprocess of envisioning a desired future and translating this vision into clearly defined goals or objectives and a sequence of steps to achieve them.
An effective strategic planning process can be a transformative moment in the life of a company. It is also challenging and complex, and many companies struggle to do it effectively. If not conducted carefully and intelligently, the results may send the organization down the wrong path, wasting resources and imperiling its future. However, when successful, an effective strategic plan can be a positive force that drives results for years to come.