Strategic Planning in Competitive Environments

Private voluntary social welfare organizations (PVSOs) are operating under increasingly competitive conditions. "Strategic Planning" (SP) is a management tool designed to meet those conditions. In an exploratory study of 154 PVSOs the authors examined management's reasons for adopting strategic planning, the attention given to external analysis, and the degree of change and satisfaction achieved. PVSOs use SP because they are required/urged to do so by external agencies. External analysis received the least attention. One-half of the organizations achieved major change which was associated with high levels of satisfaction. Widespread stakeholder participation and the use of consensus strategies detracted from both major change and high satisfaction outcomes.