Strategic Planning: Still Going Strong?

Abstract This article provides new empirical evidence on the nature and practice of strategicplanning in U.K. companies. Based on a sample of 113 public limited companies (54%manufacturing sector and 46% service sector) a descriptive account is provided of attitudestowards a range of strategic planning issues and the use of a range of tools and techniques ofstrategic planning. Among other things the article reports on respondents views to planningprocedures, the commitment to strategic activities, emphasis on areas of strategic planning,strategic objectives, and views on strategic planning processes. One finding is that spreadsheetwhat if analysis, analysis of key or critical success factors, financial analysis of competitors, andSWOT analysis are the highest ranked set of tools/techniques of analysis used by firms in thesample. Respondents indicate a very positive attitude towards strategic planning which is seen asimportant by firms in the sample. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

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