The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning

In this article, Henry Mintzberg defines the differences between strategic planning and strategic thinking, not only is one the analysis while the latter is synthesis but strategic planning has the potential to spoil strategic thinking. Identifying the differences between strategic “programming” and strategic thinking is the first step to this alternative approach. Throughout this discussion, he encourages organizations ready to toss out the process of strategic planning to instead redefine the planner’s job in four specific ways. He also persist that in redefining the planner’s role, companies will gain insight into the distinctions between planning and strategic thinking while simultaneously promote the stimulation of novel and innovative thought processes.