Thus, we begin to see that email contains important clues about how the future might unfold. Strategic planning, long range planning and operational planning each require a different type of thinking. Long range planning generally assumes that current information about future conditions is reliable and somewhat predictable. Strategic planning assumes that an organization must be responsive to an environment which is dynamic and hard to predict. Strategic planning stresses the importance of making decisions that position an organization to successfully respond to changes in the environment.
Strategic decisions are fundamental, directional and future-oriented.
Strategic planning is a systematic process that engages and builds support among key stakeholders regarding the priorities that are essential to the mission and vision of the organization. The process involves scanning the external environment, identifying organizational values, creating a vision of the future and creating, affirming or revising the mission. All of these steps are essential components of the strategic planning process and build the foundation for choosing the specific strategic directions and priorities to move the organization forward. To encourage new ways of thinking many organizations engage in scenario building as a part of the strategic planning process. Scenarios are tools for helping organizations take a long view in a world of great uncertainty.