Before You Start Strategic planning is about determining a direction , stimulating decision-making toward a desired direction, creating a path to bridge the gap between the present and the desired future, and establishing a competitive advantage in certain areas. Strategic planning is also about creativity and intuition in which nothing is taken for granted, rather than merely a rigorous process of analysis, asset mapping, and projecting trends.
Strategic planning means learning and working toward partnership building .
Successful strategic planning must be built upon an understanding of our partners, their agenda and working mechanisms. The challenge is accepting that all partners are equal and bring to the table different skills and resources. Strategic planning for a community is not the same as for a corporation. The community cannot and does not respond like business corporations. For example, one cannot shift persons in and out of the community, and elected officials require support of their constituencies to shift dollars between line items.