Strategic planning and the health care supervisor.

This article explores strategic planning from the perspective of the health care supervisor. It analyzes the strategic environment of organizations, the planning process, how to evaluate the strategic plan, and the implementation phase. A strategic planning model is offered as well as a view of the future of strategic planning. The article articulates that strategic planning should emphasize flexibility. The plan needs to be custom designed for the particular organization. Strategic planning is a primary vehicle for health care supervisors to use work teams to further develop organizational effectiveness. Finally, strategic planning is linked to both research and systems theory.