The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies

Numerous overseas studies have concluded that formal planning of company operations was uncommon and strategic planning even rarer. Those companies professing formal planning systems were found to use little more than extended budgeting. However, some of these studies did find a trend towards more s...

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Main Authors: J. H. McIntosh, A. A. Archer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 1986-06-01
Series:South African Journal of Business Management
Online Access:https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/1041
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author J. H. McIntosh
A. A. Archer
author_facet J. H. McIntosh
A. A. Archer
author_sort J. H. McIntosh
collection DOAJ
description Numerous overseas studies have concluded that formal planning of company operations was uncommon and strategic planning even rarer. Those companies professing formal planning systems were found to use little more than extended budgeting. However, some of these studies did find a trend towards more systematic planning practices. The aim of this study was to determine whether a similar trend exists among selected South African companies. The survey results indicate that although all respondents have progressed beyond the informal planning stage, some still only practise basic financial planning and extended budgeting. The majority of respondents practise forecast-based planning and only a few have reached the externally orientated planning stage. Findings indicate that none of the respondents practise strategic management. These conclusions, as well as respondents' reasons for planning failure, have implications for chief executives and planners, and indicate areas of future research.
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spelling doaj.art-2aa41384b28b4f76881a7977983b52712022-12-22T02:24:53ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Business Management2078-55852078-59761986-06-0117210110710.4102/sajbm.v17i2.1041758The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companiesJ. H. McIntosh0A. A. Archer1Safmarine, Cape TownUniversity of Stellenbosch Business SchoolNumerous overseas studies have concluded that formal planning of company operations was uncommon and strategic planning even rarer. Those companies professing formal planning systems were found to use little more than extended budgeting. However, some of these studies did find a trend towards more systematic planning practices. The aim of this study was to determine whether a similar trend exists among selected South African companies. The survey results indicate that although all respondents have progressed beyond the informal planning stage, some still only practise basic financial planning and extended budgeting. The majority of respondents practise forecast-based planning and only a few have reached the externally orientated planning stage. Findings indicate that none of the respondents practise strategic management. These conclusions, as well as respondents' reasons for planning failure, have implications for chief executives and planners, and indicate areas of future research.https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/1041
spellingShingle J. H. McIntosh
A. A. Archer
The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies
South African Journal of Business Management
title The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies
title_full The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies
title_fullStr The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies
title_full_unstemmed The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies
title_short The state of the art of strategic planning in selected South African companies
title_sort state of the art of strategic planning in selected south african companies
url https://sajbm.org/index.php/sajbm/article/view/1041
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