Very simply put, strategic planning identifies where the organization wants to be at some point in the future and how it is going to get there. The "strategic" part of this planning process is the continual attention to current changes in the organization and its external environment, and how this affects the future of the organization. Skills in strategic planning are critical to the long-term success of your organization.

This form of planning includes:

• Taking a wide look around at what's going on outside the organization and how it might affect the organization (an environmental scan)

• Taking a hard look at what's going on inside the organization, including its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (a SWOT analysis)

• Establishing statements of mission, vision and values

• Establishing goals to accomplish over the next (usually) three years or so, as a result of what's going on inside and outside the organization

• Identifying how those goals will be reached (strategies, objectives, responsibilities and timelines)

Strategic planning determines the overall direction and goals of the organization.

 Consequently, strategic planning influences numerous aspects of the organization, including what:

• Products and services will be provided by the business and how those products and services will be designed

• Organizational design and roles are needed by the organization

• Performance goals are established for positions throughout the business

• Resources are needed to reach those goals, and consequently, how much money is needed to procure those resources -- ultimately, the goals determine the content of various budgets