Strategic planning lays the groundwork for successful organizations. When done properly it will produce a high level document containing the strategic plan for an organization. We deliberately say “the” plan instead of “a” plan because it needs to be emphasized that it is not just any plan but the leading plan for the organization that was devised and decided on by at least the board. Business planning lays the groundwork for successfully managing organizations. The strategic plan sets the environment and the goals of the organization.