Define strategic thinking and strategic planning

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Strategic thinking means seeing both the big picture and its operational implications; its purpose is to discover novel, imaginative strategies and to envision potential futures significantly different from those being employed. It is thus a creative, divergent thought process. Both strategic thinking and planning are required in any thoughtful strategy-making process and strategy formulation, and neither is adequate without the other.

Strategic planning is primarily used to help an organization to ensure that members of the organization are working toward the same goals; it is a disciplined effort to shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. Strategic planning also includes the following elements:

• It is oriented toward the future and looks at how the world could be different five to ten years in the future. It is aimed at creating the organization's future.
• It is based on thorough analysis of foreseen or predicted trends and scenarios of possible alternative futures.
• It thoroughly analyzes the organization, both its internal and external environment and its potential.
• It is a qualitative, idea-driven process.
• It is a continuous learning process.
• When it is successful, it influences all areas of operations, becoming a part of the organization's philosophy and culture.