ABSTRACT
Strategic planning is perhaps one of the most challenging, and necessary, functions of management, particularly in government organizations. Strategic planning and thinking for homeland security are often scripted and based on long-established, conventional approaches advocated by the DHS and other federal agencies. This chapter focuses on outlining strategic planning considerations for each level of government and their respective jurisdictions. It examines the background of strategic planning and public entities. The chapter also discusses the planning methodologies that work best for government enterprises and reviews some alternative thoughts on strategic planning for public organizations. It explores several intellectual dimensions that will prepare homeland security practitioners to deal with planning activities and their challenges when things move from classic bureaucratic equilibrium to a transition zone of disequilibrium. For homeland security planners, the environment is extremely complex and dynamic and requires some form of planning for all jurisdictions, regardless of the level of government or its size.
