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Fundamentals of Strategic Planning

Strategic planning shapes the direction of an organization—but many professionals are expected to support it without fully understanding how it works. This course gives you a clear foundation in the strategic planning process, helping you understand how strategies are developed, communicated and executed. You’ll learn key frameworks, build the vocabulary to engage in strategic discussions and see how planning decisions connect to day-to-day work. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to support strategic initiatives and contribute to your organization’s success.

Seminar Number: 02565

4.6
(144 reviews)
  • In-Person
  • Live Online
  • At Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

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About This Course

Strategic planning shapes the direction of an organization, even for those who are not directly responsible for creating the strategy. This course provides a clear overview of how strategy is developed and implemented so you can better understand the role it plays in your organization’s success. You will learn the key concepts and language used in strategic planning, explore how organizations assess their environment and see how strategy moves from initial ideas to execution. By strengthening your understanding of the planning process, you will be better prepared to communicate with leaders involved in strategy and actively support your organization’s strategic direction in your day-to-day work.

Read the FAQs

Who Should Attend

  • Managers and supervisors who want to expand their management perspective
  • Anyone who must communicate with managers and leaders involved in the creation and implementation of strategy

  •   In-Person2 Day(s)
    12 CAE, 1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PHR, 12 PMU, 12 SPHR
  •   Live Online2 Day(s)
    12 CAE, 1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 14 CPE, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PHR, 12 PMU, 12 SPHR
 
 

Strategic planning shapes the direction of an organization—but many professionals are expected to support it without fully understanding how it works. This course gives you a clear foundation in the strategic planning process, helping you understand how strategies are developed, communicated and executed. You’ll learn key frameworks, build the vocabulary to engage in strategic discussions and see how planning decisions connect to day-to-day work. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to support strategic initiatives and contribute to your organization’s success.

  • Understand what strategy and strategic planning mean to an organization
  • Learn key concepts and the language used by those involved in strategic planning
  • Discover various approaches companies use to develop strategy
  • Find out how strategy moves from concept through implementation to realization
  • Recognize techniques companies use to assess their current and future environments
  • Identify specific ways you can contribute to your organization’s strategic success
  • What strategy and strategic planning really mean
  • How strategy creates value for customers and stakeholders
  • How companies develop strategy: seven strategic planning processes
  • The strategic planning process in action: five stages of a classic approach
  • Assessing the environments
  • Three Ds of strategy: discussion, decision, development
  • Implementing strategy: how strategy cascades through the organization

Learning Objectives

  • Define Strategic Planning and Strategy
  • Articulate Five Essential Strategy Decisions That Drive Strategy Formation and Implementation in an Organization
  • Describe How Strategy Cascades Throughout an Organization
  • Link Your Specific Role to the Organizational Strategy and to the Actions Required to Implement the Strategic Plan

What Is Strategic Planning?

  • Define Strategic Planning and Strategy
  • Identify Five Key Questions for Organizational Success
  • Recognize a Generic Process for Strategy Formation
  • Determine Key Stakeholders
  • Describe How Strategy Permeates the Organization

Why Organizations Create Strategy

  • Recognize the Grand Design Within the Organization
  • Explain the Significance of the Environments Affecting the Organization
  • Discuss Growth and Profit Strategies
  • Describe Various Market Segmentations
  • Identify How Organizations Create Value for Their Customers and Stakeholders
  • Express How an Organization Decides It Value Proposition
  • State Why It Is Important to Link Your Actions to Strategy

The Strategic Planning Process in Action

  • Identify the Five Stages of a Classic Strategic Planning Framework
  • Describe How Strategy Works in an Organization
  • Articulate the Highlights and Time Requirements of the Process
  • Recognize Your Role in Your Organization’s Strategic Plans

Assessing the Environment

  • Identify Strategic Patterns in the Environment
  • Explain and Anticipate Patterns
  • Express Why Assessing the Environment Is Important
  • Describe Six Tools/Techniques for Conducting External and Internal Assessments

Three Ds of Strategy—Discussions, Decisions and Development

  • Review Key Stages of the Strategic Planning Process
  • Describe How SWOTs, Core Competencies and Critical Success Factors Are Incorporated into the Strategic Discussions
  • Appreciate the Rationale Behind Strategic Decisions

Implementing and Reviewing Strategy

  • Discuss Strategic Alignment and What It Means to an Organization
  • Identify the Ways an Organization Creates Strategic Alignment
  • Develop a Series of Questions to Facilitate Strategic Conversations
  • Recognize Accountability Systems
  • Identify Reward and Recognition Incentives for Success
  • Express Why, When and How Often Strategy Should Be Reviewed

Alternative Approaches to Create Strategy

  • Identify Seven Strategic Planning Approaches
  • Discuss Which Approach Would Best Fit Your Organization

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

View a Sample of Our Reviews

4.6

144 reviews

 
The course lived to its name of introducing strategic planning. I started with a vague idea about the topic and ended up knowing how to draft a strategy
4
Mahdi A.
 
Team Leader Operations Technical Services
 
Industry: Media & Internet
I thought the material presented was useful, informative and delivered in an professional manner. The instructor was very knowledgeable in the training being presented.
5
Mark B.
 
Production Planner
 
Industry: Manufacturing
A hands-on class for learning how to use strategic planning exercises and tools. Instructor was knowledgeable and had good experiences and examples to share. The class participants came from a variety of industries/backgrounds and this mix provided for healthy discussion. I would recommend this class to others.
5
Jody B.
 
Partner Relations Sr Manager
 
Industry: Retail
The sessions were well planned and delivered. The resources and processes shared were excellent. It was a valuable experience as we begin to support school districts beginning the strategic planning process.
5
Doreen B.
 
Director Educational Programs
 
Industry: Education
The training was thorough and communicated in a way that made it easier to apply to our own individual roles and organizations.
4
Erin F.
 
Clinical Research Associate
 
Industry: Manufacturing

This course is valid for 12 PMUs.

As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this program may be applied for 12 credits toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements.

American Management Association is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

The use of this seal confirms that this activity has met HR Certification Institute's (HRCI) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

Talent Triangle PDUs
12 Business Acumen [BA]
Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle, 2015.
Reproduced with the permission of PMI. Copyright and all rights reserved

AMA is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.

 

American Management Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. For additional information or for more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact Customer Service at 800-262-9699.

Recommended CPE Credit: 14 hours/Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live/Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Technical – Management Services

In-Person Schedule

3 Sessions Available

Live Online Schedule

4 Sessions Available

  • $2,795.00 Non Members
  • $2,495.00 AMA Members
  • $2,478.00 GSA
Date Duration State City Zip
  2026-06-01 2026-06-02 Jun 1, 2026 - Jun 2, 2026 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2026-09-28 2026-09-29 Sep 28, 2026 - Sep 29, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2026-11-16 2026-11-17 Nov 16, 2026 - Nov 17, 2026 2 Days IL Chicago 60601-5927 Chicago Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this fundamentals of strategic planning course?

This fundamentals of strategic planning course teaches the core concepts and tools used to build an effective strategy. Participants learn how to analyze business conditions, define strategic priorities and develop actionable plans that guide organizational direction.

Who should attend this strategic planning training?

This strategic planning training is ideal for managers, team leaders and professionals who participate in planning initiatives or help implement organizational strategy. It is especially helpful for individuals who want a stronger understanding of the strategic planning process.

What are the fundamentals of strategic planning?

The fundamentals of strategic planning include analyzing the current business environment, identifying long-term goals, setting priorities and creating plans that align teams around organizational objectives. This course helps participants understand and apply these key elements.

How can strategic planning training help organizations succeed?

Effective strategy helps organizations focus resources, respond to changing conditions and pursue clear goals. This strategic planning training course provides practical frameworks that help leaders translate ideas into structured plans.

Is this course appropriate if I am new to strategic planning?

Yes. This program focuses on the fundamentals of planning and provides a clear introduction to the strategic planning process. It is designed for professionals who want to build confidence in developing and supporting strategic initiatives.

How is this course different from advanced strategic planning programs?

This course focuses on the foundations of strategic planning rather than advanced strategy development. Participants gain a practical understanding of the planning process before moving on to more advanced strategy training.
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