Planning strategically is certainly a new requirement in both the National and global business world. In order to survive the new business challenge, global thinking and practice all management level personnel must think strategically and plan with a global mindset. In addition, recent studies have concluded that organisations engaged in strategic management have outperformed those who do not.

All organisations of any reasonable size must imbibe the strategic planning mindset to be able to survive in today’s corporate climate. Strategic planning enables organisations to remain proactive, competitive, and develop calculated methods to resolve interrelated sets or problems and issues from an eagle–eye perspective.

It is a process of thinking through myriad choices and developing appropriate alternatives to resolve issues and problems. Planning also has a combining quality, as it brings innovative leaders together and enables them to share and promote their vision. Good planning promotes teamwork, improves knowledge of the organisation, fosters better communication across functions, and improves managerial skills. It establishes a pattern of success and growth and helps organisations to influence and control their environment.

It is a necessary process for gaining competitive advantage, requiring the active participation of all functional areas and for improving performance. It is a must–attend for any forward thinking public sector top management and heads of departments and units.