Both the vision and mission are defined within the framework of organization's philosophy, and are used as a context for development of intended strategies and criteria for evaluating emergent strategies. Gap analysis Gap analysis evaluates the difference between the organization's current position, and its desired future. Let's go back to our completion example. The universities may research and learn what are the completion rates at other, similar universities. Although organizations can, and should, evaluate their environment, no one can foresee the future.
Events occur that challenge our assumptions and contradict our forecasts.
Also, bright ideas often come spontaneously, outside of the formal strategic planning process's framework, and between planning events. When a deliberate strategy is realized, the result matches the intended course of action. An emergent strategy develops when an organization takes a series of actions that with time turn into a consistent pattern of behavior, regardless of specific intentions. Deliberate strategies provide the organization with a sense of purposeful direction. Emergent strategy implies that an organization is learning what works in practice.