ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the importance of an authority developing an appropriate policy orientation. If the strategic plan is to reflect political priorities it must properly take the manifesto into account. Benefits of the strategic planning approach in the private sector are clear; the economic environment in which business operates is constantly changing. An effective strategic plan should enable short term decisions to be taken that are consonant with the organisation’s long term welfare. The chapter considers the strategic plan of the International Wool Secretariat. Development of strategic planning was also proposed and the Paterson report on local authority management in Scottish authorities suggested a ‘policy plan’ as the master from which all other plans of the local authority should be derived. Thus interest in strategic planning revived and some of the lessons of earlier approaches were taken on board. As in the private sector, strategic plans tended to be much more focused and less all embracing.
