Provides direction, allows objectives to be set by organizational members, coordinates functional efforts, outlines options and provides mechanism for resource allocation. Attitude - if don't like, employee, customer stockholder can go elsewhere. In public sector, involves different branches of gov't, public interest groups, political parties, constituencies - need compromise. In public sector, clientele has role, sometimes mandated by law, use of public lands and subsequent zoning. Best shot at strategic planning where public agency has fairly well defined mission like trash removal.
Public sector ends up muddling through.
Start with mission statement - refers to long term commitment to a type of organization and a place in the market. What is the purpose of the organization. To serve people and the environment as the leading producers of outdoor leaders. Citizens look at as superficial process and no one will listen Belief by agency personnel that they know what's best, that it is difficult to involve general public and get random views, that it is too expensive. Citizens look at as costly process in terms of time and commitment, meetings are too formal or threatening, too much jargon, technical terms, feeling that involvement comes too late in process.