SUMMARY / REFERENCES

SUMMARY

Strategic planning has become more important to business managers because technology and competition have made the business environment less stable and less predictable. If you are to survive and prosper, you should take the time to identify the niches in which you are most likely to succeed and to identify the resource demands that must be met. In larger businesses the steps outlined in this publication may be carried out by teams of experts or may involve the interplay of ideas among hundreds, even thousands, of managers. These guidelines are equally applicable to the entrepreneur sitting down with several key employees to discuss what can be achieved in the next two to three years, and what it will cost. The amount of time spent on each step and the resources devoted to this process will vary greatly from business to business, but it is vital to understand and employ these steps. The questions in Appendix A will help you recall the steps involved in developing a strategic plan.
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REFERENCES

Glueck, William, and Lawrence Jauch. Business Policy and Strategic Management. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1984.

Hisrich, Robert D., and Michael P. Peters. Entrepreneurship: Starting, Developing, and Managing a New Enterprise. Homewood, IL: BPI/Irwin, 1989.

Miner, John B. Theories of Organizational Structure and Process.Chicago, IL: Dryden, 1982.

Pierce, John A., and Richard B. Robinson, Jr. Strategic Management: Strategy Formulation and Implementation. Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin, 1985.

Robey, Daniel. Designing Organizations: A Macro Perspective.Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin, 1982.

Rue, Leslie, and Lloyd L. Byars. Management: Theory andApplication. Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin, 1983.

Worth, Barry. Being an Entrepreneur in Today's SophisticatedEnvironment. St. Louis Business Journal (Dec. 25<196>31, 1989): 5A.