Abstract
Strategic planning is one of the most important and vital stage in
strategy. Strategic planning is important in achievement of
organizational goals because it directs the steps to be used in
achieving that goals that the organization needs. This work
examines strategic planning and its achievement to organizational
goals. The main objectives of this study is to examine the extent to
which the use of strategic planning in an organization has helped in
achieving the organizational goals. In carrying out this research
work, primary and secondary source method were used in collecting
of data, which was analyzed to find out that the use of strategic
planning in achieving organizational goals has helped in the growth
of such organization. Despite some argument against strategic
planning, the researcher will show the relationship between
strategic planning and the achievement of organizational goals.
1.0 Background of Study: Strategic planning being an integrated
plan through which an organization accomplishes it plans and
procedure to the achievement of organizational goals should not be
overlooked or set aside once that organization want to actualize its
goals. Every organization wants to grow’ and dominate the
environment or the market it finds itself. But due to some economic
downturn around the environment, most of them are being taken
unawares. This brings about its poor performance. Like the Global
Economic Meltdown that rocked the globe from 2007 to date, in
that situation organization that plans strategically moves on even
on a slow level.
Strategic planning according to Onwuchekwa C.I (2002) is an
elaborate systematic analysis which influences the choice of a long
term goals that defines the corporate strategy of a firm and also the
component of corporate strategy which implement the corporate
strategy through programme.
So strategic planning is important to an organization that
finds itself in a changing environment for it to be in business, it also
helps an organization to be precise in formulating its purpose,
mission and objective. This situation improves the functioning of an
organization.
It also becomes pertinent that through strategic planning, an
organization is able to understand its major role in the society, its
legitimacy to exist in the society with ultimate recognition by the
task environment. And when an organization understands its role
and mission through the components of strategic planning and its
overall concept clearly, such an organization can develop a sense of
direction and purpose and at the same time reduce the uncertainty
level to certainty all for the achievement of organizational goals.
1.1. Statement of the Problems
In the business world, lots of organizations has failed because
of inability to plan and strategize for its growth. Firms look for the
proceed of their investment rather than means to achievement of
their ends. However planning is the means through which
organization accomplishes its goals. Bearing in mind that lots of
business have failed due to inadequate planning, strategic planning
being an integrated plans through which an organization
accomplishes its objectives. Organization cannot survive without
strategic planning; its now becomes important to know the
relationship between strategic planning and the achievement of
organizational goals.
1.2. Objectives of the Study
The objectives of the study avenge other thing is
1. To examines the extent t which strategic planning has led to
the growth and development of an organization.
2. To examines the relationship between top management
functions and their involvement to the achievement of
organizational goals.
3. To know if the actualization of organizational goals has a
relationship to strategic planning
1.3. Research Questions
1. To what extent has strategic planning contributed to the
growth and development of an organization?
2. How can the management function help in the achievement of
organizational goals?
3. How can laid down plans be an instrument for the
achievement of an organizational goals?
1.4. The Research Hypothesis
H1
: Strategic planning in an organization does not help in the
achievement of an organizational set goal.
H2
: Using strategic planning in the achievement of an
organizational goal is not faced with many hindrances
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study covers the role of strategic planning in the
achievement of an organizational goal in rural areas of Awka South
Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Awka South Local Government Area is made up of many
towns but we are concentrating on one of the towns.
1.6. Limitation of the Study
In this study of the role of strategic planning in the
achievement of an organizational goal, the following are the
hindrances which the researcher may encounter.
1. Finance: Non availability of sufficient funds pose a problem in
the course of the research work. For instance transportation
cost in reaching most of the firm’s location was highly
exorbitant and this limits the number of organizations to be
reached.
2. Insufficient Information: Most of the managers or officers in
charge atimes fail to disclose all relevant information needed
for the study which will have negative effect on the study.
3. Time: For the fact that most staff/workers of a business
organization are not educated, they take much time to fill the
presence of the researcher to fill the questionnaire and in
some cases require the presence of the researcher to explain
further the questionnaires to them.
4. Inaccessibility of Roads: For the fact that most of the towns
in Awka South Local Government Area have bad roads, it
militates against the study because of the difficulty in reaching
those established firms in such towns with inaccessible roads.
1.7 Significance of the Study
The study is necessary because a clear understanding of what
strategic planning is in a business organization will be known. It
will help managers to provide their organizations direction and
purpose. It will help organizations to improve their functions in
order to achieve the corporate objectives.
It will help managers to be responsive to a changing
environment.
1.8 Definition of Terms
There are some terms used which needs to be define so that
the reader will not find it difficult to comprehend what the writer is
talking about such terms are:
Strategy: Strategy is an integrated plan through which an
organization accomplishes its long-term goal.
Planning: Planning is the process of setting goals, the means to
achieve the goal before practical actions are taken to accomplish the
goal.
Organization (Nwachukwu 2007)
Organization is a body of person join together for the purpose
of achieving a common goal.
Strategic Planning (Onwuchekwa 2002)
Strategic planning is a systematic and comprehensive analysis
for selecting an organization long term goals, projects, programmes,
budget, policy and plans for accomplishing those plan goals.
Role
Role is a function of something in a particular thing.