This report provides an overview of the strategic planning process in organizations. It covers topics such as the relationship between strategic planning and an organization's mission, objectives, and goals, the aims of strategic planning, the importance of stakeholder support, the role of mission statements, ways to ensure values support the vision and mission, information gathering for internal and external analysis, due diligence, legislation impacting business operations, PEST and SWOT analysis, information included in a strategic plan, the SMART acronym for writing strategic objectives, the difference between strategic and operational plans, major issues focused on in a strategic plan, the perspectives used in the balanced scorecard approach, factors enhancing success in implementing a strategic plan, methods for effective communication of the plan, methods for monitoring and reviewing implementation, steps to implement a strategic plan, and the importance of reviewing the effectiveness of the plan.