In the broadest sense, planning is about establishing objectives and developing the means for meeting them. The long-term direction of the organisation will be set by senior management as part of a strategic thinking process. Senior management should ask themselves where they would like the organisation to be, or where it should be in the future. This long-term view should act as a compass, giving direction to detailed business planning.
Planning is about identifying those things that must be done to improve the organisation. Adherence to a set of planning principles and compliance with a planning model will align the organisation and create constancy of purpose. The planning process comprises various inputs that must be continuously reviewed. Many inputs relate to customer needs and how successfully processes are meeting those needs; other inputs take an internal or external view of the many factors that will influence performance.
The development of a Strategic Plan involves undertaking strategic analysis, evaluating alternatives, and developing concepts for implementation. Planning is essentially about sorting the 'vital few' from the 'trivial many.'
“A plan is just a plan unless it degenerates into action.”- Frederick Drucker