Contingency Planning

1. Some kinds of planning situations are "programmed" and some are "unprogrammed." Why is it generally easier to work in programmed situations? What can happen to programmed plans when there is an unexpected event? Strategic planning is a management tool. As with any management tool, it is used for one purpose only: to help an organization do a better job - to focus its energy, to ensure that members of the organization are working toward the …

…the final set of decisions. Therefore, no one should be surprised if the process feels less like a comfortable trip on a commuter train, but rather like a ride on a roller coaster. But even roller coaster cars arrive at their destination, as long as they stay on track! Reference: Armstrong, J. Scott: "The Value of Formal Planning for Strategic Decisions: Review of Empirical Research," Strategic Management Journal 1982b. http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/381719.html