Strategic planning for business growth

Creating a strategic plan is a key part of planning for growth. A strategic plan helps prepare a realistic vision for the future of your business and maximises your potential for successful business growth.

You should not confuse strategic planning with business planning. A business plan is about setting short or mid-term goals and defining the steps to achieve them. A strategic plan is focused on mid to long-term goals and explains the basic strategies for achieving them.

This guide explains the purpose of strategic planning. It tells you how to develop a strategic plan and what key elements you should consider in your business strategy. Finally, it covers the main steps in the strategic planning process and the common planning models you can use, such as PESTLE analysis and SWOT analysis.