Applied Strategic Planning: How to Develop a Plan That Really Works (Hardcover)

~ Leonard Goodstein (Author), Timothy Nolan (Author), J. Pfeiffer (Author) "Most organizations do some kind of long-range or strategic planning, and the formal strategic planning process has been used for over thirty years..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, San Diego, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"We have been using the [Applied Strategic Planning] process in our agency and it has helped us to focus and provide needed leadership, given the extAnded budget crisis and constant change." — Ramon Rodriguez, deputy executive director, New York State of Equalization and Assessment --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Written by three top consultants and trainers, Applied Strategic Planning shows managers and CEOs a clear, totally effective way to identify and implement strategic objectives.

Applied Strategic Planning surpasses other strategic planning models in many key areas, including:

• Emphasis on organizational culture
• Integration of business and functional plans
• Performance audits
• Gap analysis
• Values clarification

Goodstein, Nolan, and Pfeiffer take managers through all phases of the strategic planning process, including:

• How to determine if an organization is ready for strategic planing
• Effectively communicate a corporate vision
• Recognize the role of culture in changing strategic direction
• Understand the various roles of a consultant
• Write effective mission statements
• Create contingency plans

Containing charts, diagrams, and checklists along with illuminating examples from the authors, extensive consulting experience, and even cartoons that convey important points, Applied Strategic Planning lets managers at the helm navigate expertly through today's unpredictable business climate.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 379 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (June 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070240205
• ISBN-13: 978-0070240209
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #227,473 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sea of knowledge, one centimeter deep, August 24, 2000

By	Diego Vasquez (Colombia) - See all my reviews

This book widely specifies WHAT to do in strategic planning but it hardly explains HOW to do it. What I expect when reading this kind of topics is not the concept but rather the application procedures and practical techniques for implementing those concepts in an effective and innovative way. In consequence, I found this book repetitive and non productive for planning specialists. However it may serve a lot to beginners and students.

51 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and highly useful for leaders and consultants., March 19, 1999

By A Customer

Provides an understanding of effective strategic planning processes. Offers a model for planning, with chapters devoted to each phase. Topics covered include: envisioning, culture, roles of the consultant, environmental monitoring, values scan, mission formulation, strategic business modeling, performance audit, gap analysis, integrating action plans, contingency planning, and implementation. This work is informative and highly useful for leaders and consultants.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Applied Strategic Planning by Leonard D Goodstein, Timothy M, May 19, 2005

By	Elijah Chingosho "Dr Elijah Chingosho" (Nairobi, Kenya) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Applied Strategic Planning: A Comprehensive Guide (Hardcover)

In Applied Strategic Planning, the authors give a comprehensive step-by-step guide to conducting applied strategic planning. They clearly demonstrate organisations' need for strategic planning. The book is different from other strategic planning models in some significant ways. The major differences are in the values scan, organisational culture, strategic business modelling and integrating business and functional plans. The authors emphasise the importance of application considerations and environmental monitoring as on-going processes throughout the planning period. The authors produced a high quality book that is an important reference source whenever I need to undertake strategic planning.

The book provides the reader with an overall understanding of the process of applied strategic planning and the required steps and technology for using the model in a strategic planning process. The strategic planning model covers application and implementation from the inception of the plan to the post-implementation phase, making it very practical.

The model involves nine sequential steps as well as two continuous functions, namely environmental monitoring and application considerations, that are involved at each of the sequential phases. The sequential steps are planning to plan, followed by values scan, then mission formulation followed by strategic business modelling. Performance audit and gap analysis follow, these two being different aspects of a single phase. The last three phases are integrating action plans, contingency planning and implementation.

I read the book because I would like to increase my proficiency in and knowledge of practical strategic planning and to sharpen my consultancy skills. The book is very practical and easy to follow. As a consultant, I should be able to use the methodology in the course to manage the planning process.

Applied strategic planning provides an appealing model for transforming organisations. The model is future focused and leadership driven. It involves all people in an organisation. It produces a plan that is detailed, comprehensive, understood and accepted, and has the potential to generate energising force to drive the transformation of an organisation.
After going through the book, I feel confident that I could act as a consultant for any organisation.