Best Books on Strategic Planning and Management

Best books on Strategic Planning and ManagementD

o you want to know how to plan and manage your business? Do you want to learn about the different types of strategic planning and how they can be used in your business? Do you want to find out what makes good strategic planning and management practices? If so, then this is the blog for you! We’re going to be discussing some of the best books on strategic planning and management.

 

Table of Contents

Best Books on Strategic Planning and Management: THE LIST

1. Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies | By Erica Olsen

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Think and act strategically every time

In today’s business environment, strategic planning stresses the importance of making decisions that will ensure an organization’s ability to successfully respond to changes in the environment and plan for sustainable viability. Providing practical, field-tested techniques and a complete 6-phase plan, Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies shows you how to make strategy a habit for all organizations, no matter the size, type, or resource constraints.

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies is for companies of all types and sizes looking to build and sustain a competitive edge, set up an ongoing process for market assessment and trend analysis, and develop a vision for future growth. This revised edition includes new and updated content on planning for both the short and the long-term; crucial information on succession planning; help to prepare for the unexpected using scenario planning and agile strategy; strategies for implementing change and integrating strategic plans successfully by involving all staff members; and more.

  • The supplementary CD lays out a comprehensive, 6-phase, step-by-step program, complete with downloadable spreadsheets, charts, checklists, video links, and more
  • Provides value for any business or entrepreneur looking to improve efficiency, focus, and competitive edge
  • Includes practical, field-tested techniques

Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies gives today’s business owners and upper-level management the tools and information they need to think and act strategically in order to more effectively weather current economic storms while planning for future growth.

2. Whatever It Takes: Master the Habits to Transform Your Business, Relationships, and Life | By Brandon Bornancin

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

From a serial entrepreneur who has closed over $100M in sales and founded two eight-figure companies, including one of LinkedIn’s Top 50 Startups, comes a no-BS guide to getting everything you want out of your business, relationships, and life.

No matter who you are or where you come from, your education, or your network, you can defy the odds to create the life you want and build the business you’ve only dreamed about.

His journey is all the proof you need.

Brandon Bornancin graduated college flat broke. He started a business that was an epic failure. Then he turned it all around – before he was 30 – closing over $100 million in sales for Google and IBM and founding two multimillion-dollar companies, the second named “LinkedIn’s Top 50 Startups.”

How did he do it? By doing Whatever It Takes.

In this no-nonsense guide to success, you’ll learn the empowering beliefs and transformative habits needed to achieve all that you want in business and in life.

You’ll discover the secrets of wildly successful people – how they think, what they say, and what they do to make their dreams come true so that you can too!

Whatever It Takes offers a transparent and tough-love approach to help you conquer what’s holding you back from the life you’ve always wanted and the business you’ve always dreamed about. Bornancin lays it all out to teach you exactly how to:

  • break bad habits and form empowering ones
  • master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results
  • fail forward to get better
  • unlock the single biggest secret to pursuing your passion
  • grasp the upside of Constructive Paranoia
  • leverage the power of The One-Percent Rule
  • bullet-proof your sales

Be forewarned, this book will not show you the easy way out – in fact, consider it the complete opposite. This book is your battlefield. It’s all about dying hard to old ways and going all-in on the future person you want to become. “Wake up and do the work,” Bornancin demands.

You too can defy the odds to get everything that you want in business and in life if you are willing to do Whatever It Takes.

3. Start with the Vision: Six Steps to Effectively Plan, Create Solutions, and Take Action | By Robert Shallenberger

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Start with the Vision introduces a powerful planning process called the Six-Step Process that will help any person or team navigate change, create solutions, and develop an actionable plan. A person can take any challenge or opportunity and use the Six-Step Process to create a clear path forward.

When challenges arise, most people start with the problem, which is the exact wrong place to start. Instead, the Six-Step Process will shift the focus away from the problem to the best starting point – the vision! Then, in the subsequent steps of the Six-Step Process, you will develop a clear action plan to help you achieve your vision. This easy-to-use process has helped hundreds of people and organizations achieve massive results.

Below are some comments from people who have used the Six-Step Process:

“We finally figured out a way to take our manufacturing from 16,000 units a day to 32,000 units a day!”

“Our marriage was on life-support. The Six-Step Process gave me and my husband a clear plan to bring the fire back in our marriage. This process literally saved our marriage!”

“Each of our sales reps used this process to increase their average sales by more than 70%!”

“For years, I couldn’t figure out how to improve my health. The missing ingredient was a vision and a plan. The Six-Step Process helped me FINALLY achieve my health goals, and I feel better than ever!”

4. The Systems Thinking Approach to Strategic Planning and Management | By Stephen Haines

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Easy-to-follow and understand, The Systems Thinking Approach to Strategic Planning and Management presents the first practical application of “systems thinking”, a concept first introduced by Peter Senge in the Fifth Discipline as a new, better, and elegantly simple A-B-C approach to strategic management, planning, and change. It provides a unique Systems Thinking ApproachÔ that places equal emphasis on planning, strategies, and change management processes in support of customer satisfaction.

5. Strategic Planning: An Interactive Process for Leaders | By Dan Ebener

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Strategic planning here is an interactive process in which leaders, managers, and followers create a common goal together. Ebener and Smith, using their years of experience as consultants and teachers, have distilled their knowledge into a simple step-by-step process that can be used in the three types of organizations: business, not-for-profit, and public. The importance of planning and preparation, prioritizing needs, communication, and accountability in implementation are highlighted.

6. trategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations | By John Bryson

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

The essential planning resource and framework for nonprofit leaders

Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations is the comprehensive, practical guide to building and sustaining a more effective organization. A solid strategy is now more important than ever, and this book provides a clear framework for designing and implementing an effective and efficient planning process. From identifying stakeholders and clarifying a shared vision, to implementing plans and revising strategies, the discussion covers all aspects of the process to help you keep your organization united and on track into the future. The field’s leading authority shares insight, advice, helpful tools, and specific techniques, alongside a widely used and well-regarded approach to real-world planning. This new fifth edition includes new case studies and examples along with up-to-date resources and references, and new multimedia-related content.

Innovation and creativity produce great ideas, but these ideas must be collected and organized into an actionable plan supported by a coalition of support to make your organization great. This book provides expert guidance and perspective to help you bring everything together into a workable organizational strategy.

  • Discover an effective approach to the strategic planning process
  • Identify issues, establish a vision, clarify mandates, and implement plans
  • Manage the process with continual learning and revising
  • Link unique assets and abilities to better accomplish the central mission

Public and nonprofit leaders are forever striving to do more with less, and great strategic planning can help you build efficiency and effectiveness into your organization’s everyday operations. Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations provides the framework and tools you need to start planning for tomorrow today.

7. Essentials of Strategic Planning in Healthcare | By Jeffrey Harrison

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

An organization may know its current situation down to the last pack of gauze or vial of insulin—but does it know what’s in its future? Successful healthcare strategic planning not only needs to measure how well a hospital or health system is currently performing but also must anticipate what lies ahead. Essentials of Strategic Planning in Healthcare is a complete guide to developing and implementing a strategic plan. Starting with an examination of leadership’s role in strategic planning and the impact of organizational culture, the book then explores the essential techniques, tools, and data for developing a strategic plan and recommends strategic planning initiatives across the continuum of healthcare services. Taking a futurist perspective, author Jeffrey P. Harrison acknowledges the constant changes in regulatory and quality requirements and the evolving healthcare innovations that strategic planning must consider. A comprehensive case study woven throughout the book allows readers to assume the role of strategic planners and apply what they are learning to the entire strategic planning process. This revised edition includes insight into the modern healthcare system and an exploration of trends in mergers and acquisitions, system growth, and value-based care. Additional updates include current data on healthcare spending, hospital statistics, healthcare employment, and the use of healthcare technology; new content on the use of artificial intelligence and big data in healthcare, as well as the benefits of blockchain technology; coverage of future advances in healthcare, including genomics and Medicare for All; and expanded marketing content, including the latest trends in websites, digital outlets, and social media. In addition to study questions and practical exercises in each chapter that are linked to the book’s case study, this edition also offers online exercises to expand students’ learning. Incorporating the latest developments with best practices, this book aims to be the primary resource for university courses in healthcare strategic planning.

8. Strategic Planning - A Pragmatic Guide | By John Dobbs

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Strategic Planning – A Pragmatic Guide — Delivers a beginning-to-end model and process for strategic planning for executive teams! Strategic Planning – A Pragmatic Guide is a book derived from the observations and real-world experiences of its authors. This book is born of two very different, but ultimately converging perspectives on business strategy development and strategic planning, namely that of:- a professional business and technology strategy consultant who has served numerous Fortune 500 companies;- a corporate strategic planning executive who has led internal strategic planning and implementation efforts in two Fortune 500 companies. This “pragmatic guide” provides a framework for strategic planning that is designed to achieve committed alignment among stakeholders, while helping executive teams create and implement, difference-making business strategies — strategies that are:- Built to win- Supported by data- Financially sound- Grounded in the practical realities of business – Realistically actionable Here are just a few of the questions addressed and answered in Strategic Planning – A Pragmatic Guide Issues: – What are the perplexing problems with strategic planning?- Why do many executives lack confidence in their organization’s strategic plans?- What are the reasons why many strategic plans fail?- What are the distinctions between visioning, strategic planning, and budgeting? Approach: What are the most overlooked, yet critical aspects of strategic planning?- What should a beginning-to-end planning process look like and accomplish if it is to succeed?- What are the critical questions to ask (and answer) at each major stage of strategic planning?- What are the essential elements of a successful, balanced business model? Context: How are strategic plans affected by the idiosyncrasies of the organization?- How do we honestly and accurately assess where we are and where we need to go?- What are the critical organizational contexts in which strategic planning must be done?- How can a vision and strategic plans be developed that the entire executive team will embrace and support?- How are strategic priorities best decided and organized? Execution: Why is it so difficult to successfully implement strategic plans?- What are the fundamental secrets to strategic plan execution and accountability?- How should a strategic plan’s impact be monitored and measured?- What does it take to lead a successful strategic planning team and effort? These are but a sample of the many valuable and insightful questions asked, debated, and addressed by the authors in the text. It is their hope that the reader will ask and find answers to many other vital questions, and engage in “dialogue” with the authors along the way. To this end, each chapter ends with a set of questions that the authors suggest the reader consider before moving on to the next chapter. When done in earnest, the reader’s responses may be used as a way to stimulate strategic conversations among executive teams. This book will help you evaluate the efficacy of strategic planning efforts and outcomes in your own organization.

9. Team-Based Strategic Planning: A Complete Guide to Structuring, Facilitating, and Implementing the Process | By C. Davis Fogg

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Team-Based Strategic Planning uniquely describes the strategic planning process and the ways of facilitating the development of a strategic plan and its implementation. It is a “how-to-do” book profusely illustrated with planning techniques, facilitation guides, and real-world examples of the planning and strategy efforts of dozens of organizations. The book is a professional best-seller and sold 25,000 copies on hardcover 1964-2010. The book deals with the six key aspects of strategic planning in a team environment: (1) Structure and Customization of the process to meet the needs of your particular organization (2) Facilitation-of the planning process (3) Teams and teamwork (4) Management and Leadership–from forging the vision to making the plan operational (5) Organizational involvement-gaining involvement and commitment at all levels (6) information gathering and analysis–benchmarking, competitive analysis and “the other precious few techniques that are truly useful”. Examples from actual companies illustrate each step of the process and what worked and didn’t work. Moreover, “Team-Based Strategic Planning” is designed for active use at every stage. You’ll find dozens of hands-on tools that will help you as your strategy evolves including ) cue cards and flow charts that plot the process and make it easier to master; self-contained facilitator guides; troubleshooting advice on problem intervention for CEOs, planning leaders, and facilitators. In short, this is a “must-have” guide for anyone at any level in an organization who is embarking on or involved with strategic planning.

10. Strategic Planning | By Keith Simerson

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

When it comes to strategic planning, B. Keith Simerson knows from experience what works and what doesn’t. Strategic Planning: A Practical Guide to Strategy Formulation and Execution weaves that knowledge into a roadmap for anyone charged with creating a strategic plan, evaluating a strategic planning process, or executing resulting strategies in an effective and efficient way. Not a one-size-fits-all solution, the book offers a menu of information and options based on a broad view of strategic planning and offers correspondingly broad applicability.

The guide focuses on two major aspects of the planning process: the multitude of factors contributing to an effective strategic planning framework and the multitude of drivers and enablers of successful execution. Armed with concrete information, readers will learn to create and execute a business strategy, a personal strategic action plan, or strategies for any kind of for-profit or nonprofit organization. Specific methodologies, tools, and techniques will guide readers to successful strategy formation―and execution.

11. Essentials Of Strategic Management | By Gamble, Peteraf, Thompson

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Essentials of Strategic Management, 7th Edition by Gamble, Peteraf, and Thompson presents concise, straight-to-the-point discussions, and timely examples, with a writing style that captures student interest. It features 10 chapters with 12 diverse and tightly-linked cases. The content is solidly mainstream and balanced, mirroring both insights of academic thought and real-world strategic management. For years, strategy instructors have been shifting from purely text and cases to a text-cases-simulation course structure. Two widely used online competitive strategy simulations, The Business Strategy Game (BSG) and GLO-BUS, are optional companions. Both simulations are closely linked to the content.

12. Mission Met: Proven Strategic Planning Guidance to Help You Build a Financially Secure and Impactful Nonprofit | By Eric Ryan

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Strategic planning, when done well, can powerfully transform your small nonprofit.

However, as Eric Ryan has learned over nearly twenty-five years of nonprofit leadership, there are many barriers to effective strategic planning.

In this practical and easy-to-read book, he’ll help you overcome these barriers by teaching you:

  • The leadership mindset for effective strategic planning
  • How to structure a practical, two-section plan
  • A simple four-step planning cycle
  • Strategies for getting your staff and board’s buy-in
  • Techniques for measuring progress on your plan
  • A format and approach to writing powerful goals
  • How to write your organization’s mission, vision, and values
  • And more…

Further, you’ll get access to numerous free worksheets, templates, and videos that supplement this book.

Employing these tools and strategies will help you and your team create and execute a plan that will lead to a more financially secure and impactful nonprofit.

Select the Look Inside feature to start reading the first chapter.

13. Strategic Impact: A Leader’s Three-Step Framework for the Customized Vital Strategic Plan | By Carol Poore

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Are you a senior executive, board member, emerging leader, or consultant responsible for leading a strategic plan that actually gets implemented and delivers results?

Strategic Impact: A Leader’s Three-Step Framework for the Customized Vital Strategic Plan presents a trailblazing method that will help you guide and customize your organization’s strategic planning program. Dr. Poore delivers innovation through virtual strategy workshops, digital communication opportunities, and new, accessible cloud-based tracking systems.

Strategic Impact provides a reliable, three-step framework, applicable to any organization, regardless of size, scale, or structure, allowing you to:

    • •Declutter the typically complicated strategic planning process.

  • •Deliver a destiny-shaping program in an efficient, budget-conscious way—including for mission-driven small businesses and nonprofits with limited resources.
  • •Plan and lead a life-changing leadership workshop experience culminating in strategic goals.
  • •Craft a compelling written strategic plan which can be digitized and communicated through social media.
  • •Implement an effective tracking and communication system to monitor progress and ensure accountability.
  • •Engage employees, customers, and key audiences in celebrating your organization’s strategic impact.

Unlike other strategic planning books, Strategic Impact places an intense focus on curating a vibrant, life-changing strategic planning workshop that strengthens leadership bonds and commitment for implementation. It simplifies the strategic planning process and ensures a clear, comprehensive, and customizable approach for you and your leadership team.

Dr. Poore’s emphasis on strategic goal implementation will amplify your organization’s ability to get it done, fulfill your mission and purpose, and achieve strategic impact!

14. Strategizing: New Thinking About Strategy, Planning, and Management | By Eric Bolland

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Strategy is an essential part of business, but strategizing often gets ignored or left behind. In this exciting new work, Eric J. Bolland introduces strategizing as a key component of strategy development and execution, showing strategizing as a way to aid organizations with their futures. To strategize successfully, businesses need a set of well-developed tools to help them perform specific actions continuously. Starting by tracking the origin and evolution of strategy and strategic planning, this exciting new guide puts forward advice on how to put strategy research into strategizing practice. In detailed chapters, Bolland addresses how strategizing works, with twenty real-world cases to show how theory can become reality, citing art, history, literature, science, psychology, and philosophy to explore the human impulse to strategize. A valuable accompaniment for business students of strategy, as well as a practical handbook for staff and mid-and upper-level managers, this book is an essential read for anyone seeking guidance about planning the futures of their organizations.

15.Strategic Planning for Public Managers | By James Mercer

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Designed for local government managers and administrators, this pioneering work offers a clear and comprehensive guide to the use of strategic planning techniques in the public sector. The author presents a concise overview of the strategic planning process, defines the terms involved, and provides a step-by-step methodology for organizations ready to move into the actual implementation of strategic planning. In addition to differentiating between community-based, corporate, functional, and defined-purpose strategic planning processes, Mercer explains the delineation between strategic and tactical planning and offers practical approaches to overcoming barriers to the use of strategic planning in the public sector arena. Throughout, the author makes extensive use of case studies of strategic planning programs implemented by a variety of local government and public sector organizations.

Mercer begins by describing how strategic planning can be both an effective tool for dealing with change and a technique of organizational development. He goes on to provide detailed instructions on how to prepare to conduct strategic planning, how to determine strategic issues, the importance of a values audit, and how to develop an environmental scan or assessment. Subsequent chapters address determining organizational threats and opportunities, composing the mission statement, defining critical success factors and indicators, planning strategies, and assessing strategic risks and benefits. Finally, the author shows how to perform an internal assessment of the ability to actually adopt and carry out strategies, the importance of contingency planning, and how to tie strategic planning to the budget and evaluate the process. The public sector manager experienced with strategic planning techniques can use the guide as a handy reference to particular aspects of the process, while those new to strategic planning will find this an indispensable aid in developing and implementing their own internal strategic planning processes.

16. Managing the Future: A Guide to Forecasting and Strategic Planning in the 21st Century | By Stephen Millett

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Equipping your organization for an uncertain future is a daunting task. If you’re already over-stretched dealing with the pressures of today – it can seem like an impossible one. But building future planning into your everyday practices is not only vital – it’s eminently doable. And who better to show us how than Stephen Millett – historian, futurist, and management consultant for three decades? Managing the Future offers a straightforward and pragmatic approach to strategic planning. It takes an honest look at the limitations of forecasting, and shows (through real-life examples and a wealth of experience) how managers can best use a variety of tutoring methods, including scenarios, horizon scanning, and trend monitoring. Dr. Millett first outlines his Five Futuring Principles: they provide a clear theoretical framework for preparing an organization for the future. He then takes us through the practical steps involved in managing a forward-facing organization, including managing “future” (the external-to-internal process of scanning the environment to anticipate the trends that will affect your organization) and “visioning” (realizing the internal mission, values, aspirations, and goals of an organization and its management, and then turning your organization outward to face the world).

17.Strategic Planning Plus | By Roger Kaufman

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

“Describes in detail how to create a strategic plan to identify and meet the requirements of any organization. A solid survey of the techniques of the subject.” –Long Range Planning “I′ve finally had an opportunity to read through (this) remarkable guide to strategic planning. (It has) indeed captured the critical elements of this important if messy process. All of this is, of course, applicable to universities, and some of it could even be done without causing riots and revolutions. Every one of us who does university administration should probably read your book if only to recognize what we are not able to do for lack of good data and good analytical tools.” –John V. Lombardi, President, University of Florida “Dr. Kaufman′s approach to strategic planning is new, different, and innovative . . . the target audience of middle managers and executives should find the book an important information source for achieving organizational and societal objectives. Furthermore, it will probably provide some interesting dialogue at strategic planning sessions.” –Melvin T. Stith, Ph.D., Dean, College of Business, Florida State University “Just when the detrimental effects of trendy, short-term, process-oriented management practices are beginning to dramatically weaken altogether too many organizations, along comes Strategic Planning Plus. This book is a solid, reality-based management guide. It is filled with helpful advice and procedures that can improve your odds of doing the right things and doing them well. Reading it will give you a new perspective on the importance and value of planning for organizational success. Putting it to work in your organization can be a driving force in your long-term success.” –Wess Roberts, Ph.D., Author, Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun “A fresh approach to a timeworn subject . . . I believe planning is something all managers would like to do better.” –Peter Economy, Director of Administration Horizons Technology, Inc., San Diego, California Current strategic planning and development is often too myopic, and much more must be considered before practical planning is accomplished. Filled with fresh, new ideas and proven methods, Strategic Planning Plus covers strategic planning at three levels–micro, macro, and mega–and describes, in detail, how to create a strategic plan to identify and meet the requirements of any organization. This book shows how to identify the direction an organization must take, gives a six-step process for identifying and solving organizational problems, and provides methods for evaluating progress and revising strategic plans. Strategic Planning Plus also contains handy checklists, flowcharts, procedures, and case studies.

18. Strategic Planning: A Practical Guide for Competitive Success | By Stanley Charles Abraham

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

An exceptional treatise on strategic planning for single-business companies that is at once academically rigorous and uncommonly practical, this book embodies the Association for Strategic Planning’s “Think-Plan-Act” rubric. It emphasizes the pervasive role of strategic thinking in strategic planning, including searching for better strategies, business models, and opportunities. This includes monitoring changes in the external environment: the firm’s industry and competitors, markets, and general environment. The book also provides original and proven techniques to develop viable strategic alternatives, as well as many other useful analytical tools. Unique software enables full analysis of a firm’s financial performance and condition as well as a full strategic analysis, thus integrating everything presented in the book and providing an opportunity to practice doing a strategic analysis. Includes examples of real companies.

19. Strategic Planning That Actually Works: A Step-By-Step Guide to Get it Done Faster, Cheaper, and Better Than Ever | By Sarai Johnson

View Price
Unlimited Reading
Unlimited Summaries

Strategic Planning is woefully out of fashion, with many bloggers and thought-leaders claiming it is, in fact, dead.

They couldn’t be more wrong!

Strategic Planning is an integral part of any nonprofit’s ability to conduct effective social change. It allows the organization’s staff, management, volunteers, and board to identify and focus on the top priorities that the stakeholders agree will matter most to accomplishing their mission.

Without a strategy, and the execution that follows – nonprofits are awash in mission creep, money chasing, and burned out and demoralized staff. Ain’t nobody wants that.

This book will walk you through the process of Strategic Planning invented by Sarai Johnson of Lean Nonprofit. Her practice is based on recent innovations in the business sector, building on the concepts of Lean Canvas and the Business Model Canvas. Adapting this strategic, action-based tool for nonprofits provides you, the nonprofit practitioner, with step-by-step instructions for leading a group of people through the planning process.

Oh, did we mention it is a ONE DAY PROCESS?

Yeah, it’s cool. We know.

Along with the book, you can access free downloadable templates and tools to help make your strategic planning session a smashing success – making your organization better off – and making YOU look like a rockstar.

Strategic Planning That Actually Works covers:

– How to set up and lead a meeting that is productive, useful, and FUN.
– Identifying stakeholders – and ranking their ability to pay for services.
– Identifying your stakeholder problems.
– Mapping the solutions your organization provides to the stakeholder problems.
– Articulating the activities your organization conducts in order to provide these solutions.
– Defining the competitive edge your organization has over others in delivering the solutions you provide.
– Understanding how to evaluate and measure your mission performance in all you do.
– Articulating your value claim, to establish your position in the nonprofit community to be heard above the noise.
– Developing a budget draft for the strategy agreed upon in the meeting with your leadership and stakeholders.

The nonprofit strategy needs to catch up with the direction of the business world – and now it can. Not only focusing on launching things and seeing them “fail fast,” this book allows you to integrate lean, adaptive business principles into your mission-oriented work without pain and suffering. That is to say, you’ll talk business, but you’ll still feel the love.

If you are feeling lost, confused, and bereft of a strategic priority, or if you’ve simply been told by a funder or other party whose opinion you care about that you need a strategic plan, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a simpler, faster, cheaper or BETTER way to do it than this process.

Sarai Johnson is the Founder and Principal of Lean Nonprofit, LLC, a member of the Sarai Johnson Group, which also includes Incubetter (for business incubators), Vivo Credo (for faith organizations), Teknia Publishing, and, the creatively named, Sarai Johnson Consulting (for mission-oriented small businesses and service providers).
Sarai is a nonprofit and business management maven and creative entrepreneur. As nonprofits go, she spent more than a decade managing nonprofit programs, people, and projects, earned her Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon in 2012, and she holds Certified Associate in Project Management certification from Project Management Institute. Most recently, Sarai served as the Assistant Director at NEDCO, Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation where she played a key role in scaling the organization from one program run by six people, to the multifaceted gem operated by about 50 geniuses that it is today (with a budget 7 times larger than when she began).

Final Thoughts on the Best Books on Strategic Planning and Management

Do you need a plan? Do you know what you want? Do you have the resources to achieve it? If so, congratulations! You are in the right place. However, if you only have a vague idea of what you should be doing, or if you don’t have any friends who can help you out, then there is a good chance that you are lost. The goal of this blog is to provide readers with specific advice on how to make the most out of their strategic planning and management skills. We will guide you through this list of the best books on strategic planning and amange that will help make your life easier and help you achieve your goal.

Happy reading!

Do you see a book that you think should be on the list? Let us know your feedback here.

This page may contain affiliate links. This website may contain content that comes from Amazon. This website and its pages are not intended to constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. The information on this website and its pages are not intended to constitute investment advice and all content are the views and opinions of the author(s), contributors, or administrators. Please read our disclaimer for more info.

BiggerInvesting.com may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you click on these links and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. However, we cannot be held responsible for any fraudulent or misleading products or services promoted through these links. It is important to exercise due diligence and research before making any purchase.

What is FedNow Service?

What is FedNow Service?

What is FedNow? In today's fast-paced digital age, where instant communication and on-demand services have become the norm, the Federal Reserve is stepping up to revolutionize how we make payments. Enter FedNow, a cutting-edge real-time payment system with the aim of...

read more
What is Career Development Stages?

What is Career Development Stages?

areer development is the process by which employees grow and reach their potential over time. It can be challenging to maintain peak performance, especially as an employee navigates different projects and milestones in their career. Career...

read more
What are Career Development Skills?

What are Career Development Skills?

veryone wants to land a job they love and is passionate about. But most people find it challenging to get a job that aligns with their career goals. In fact, the skills gap is one of the biggest issues when it comes to hiring and retaining quality...

read more
What is the Hardest Job on Earth?

What is the Hardest Job on Earth?

verybody has to work at some point in their life. It is fair to say that some jobs are harder than others, but which ones exactly? There are many different fields of work, from healthcare and education to sales and construction. Each job will have...

read more
What Easy Jobs Make 100K a Year?

What Easy Jobs Make 100K a Year?

ne of the most common questions about jobs that pay well is “How can I get a job like that?” But what you may not realize is that getting a job like that isn’t always as easy as it seems. Becoming an engineer or a surgeon, for example, takes years...

read more
What is a Fun Career?

What is a Fun Career?

here are so many career options out there, that it can be hard to know where to start. When looking for a new job, you might find yourself asking things like “What kind of career should I have?” or “What is a fun job?” But what exactly makes a...

read more
What Is The Easiest Well-Paying Job?

What Is The Easiest Well-Paying Job?

here are plenty of jobs that pay well, but many of them require extensive training, education, and experience. Unless you have a group of specialized skills or a lot of time to invest in training, it can be difficult to find a well-paying job...

read more
What are Good Careers to Change?

What are Good Careers to Change?

hile there are people who lead happy and fulfilling lives without ever changing their jobs, there are others who feel an itch that needs to be scratched. They may love the work they do, but they’re not satisfied with where they are in their...

read more
What is the Best Career to Retrain For?

What is the Best Career to Retrain For?

ou’ve passed 35 and decided to re-train. But what do you do next? You’re not fresh out of high school, nor are you able to go back to college again. That leaves you with a limited set of options when it comes to retraining. So, what should you do...

read more
How Do I Start a New Career at 35?

How Do I Start a New Career at 35?

eing in your mid-30s and feeling stuck in your career is a very common problem. You might have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along, or you might have felt like something was missing from your life for a while. Whatever the case...

read more
What is World Without Waste?

What is World Without Waste?

FDA, or the Council of Fashion Designers of America, is the main organization representing and supporting the fashion industry in the United States. Every year, they host the CFDA Awards. The CFDA Awards are the fashion industry’s top accolade....

read more
Is Zara Greenwashing?

Is Zara Greenwashing?

FDA, or the Council of Fashion Designers of America, is the main organization representing and supporting the fashion industry in the United States. Every year, they host the CFDA Awards. The CFDA Awards are the fashion industry’s top accolade....

read more
Is Greenwashing a Crime?

Is Greenwashing a Crime?

he term “greenwash” refers to the efforts of companies to appear environmentally friendly without actually doing anything to improve the environmental sustainability of their operations. That’s not the sort of thing that a company would want the...

read more
Who Created Greenwashing?

Who Created Greenwashing?

reenwashing is the act of a company marketing itself as environmentally friendly when in reality, it is not. It is often a method used by companies to hide the negative effects their products have on the environment. It’s a deceptive practice that...

read more
Why Do Companies Greenwash?

Why Do Companies Greenwash?

‍he concept of a sustainable lifestyle is all the rage these days. Virtually every article, blog post, and news story you’ll read about sustainable living inevitably touches on the topic of sustainability. And with good reason. A...

read more
Is Eco-Friendly?

Is Eco-Friendly?

he past few years have witnessed a sea change in the global consciousness about the environment. People are now more conscious of the impact of their actions and choices on the environment. At the same time, the green movement has also become a...

read more
Where Can I Read Sustainability?

Where Can I Read Sustainability?

nterest in sustainability is higher than ever. That’s because it is becoming a more common topic of conversation. More people are joining the movement to live more sustainable, green lifestyles. With this increase in interest, you can find almost...

read more
Why is Sustainable Living Important?

Why is Sustainable Living Important?

ccording to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability is the ability to provide for the needs and wants of current and future generations. Living sustainably is a concept that’s gaining more and more popularity and acceptance across...

read more
What are the 4 types of Planning?

What are the 4 types of Planning?

he first step to business success is to decide how to define success for the company. In many cases, businesses aren't clear on what exactly they want to achieve, and this can lead to confusion as well as frustration when goals are not met....

read more
What do you Mean Planning?

What do you Mean Planning?

lanning is all about decisions. There are lots of them, they happen every day, and each one has the potential to affect the future in some way. We should be good at making good decisions and we can't always be good at that. Planning helps us get...

read more
What are Some Types of Systems?

What are Some Types of Systems?

 system is a collection of parts that work together to achieve a common goal. Systems can be physical or open, probabilistic or deterministic, and man-made or natural systems. Best Books on Systems and Planning What is a system? The term ‘system’...

read more
What is a System Selection Report?

What is a System Selection Report?

 system selection report (SSR) is a graphical report that helps you select the best systems for your business. An SSR is a vital tool for system administrators and decision-makers. It provides a snapshot of the state of your system, including the...

read more
What is a System Plan?

What is a System Plan?

 system plan is a critical input to the design phase, which focuses on selecting the right hardware and software components, determining how they will be configured, and identifying security and management requirements. Best Books on Systems and...

read more
What is Sustainability in Farming?

What is Sustainability in Farming?

ustainability is an approach to the environment that seeks to meet human needs without depleting or degrading the environment. It’s a process of caring for and making choices that are sustainable from a human and environmental perspective. The...

read more
What Makes Something Sustainable?

What Makes Something Sustainable?

ustainability is a term used to describe something that is able to provide for its own needs and keep going without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. That’s a lot to think about! If you want to know if...

read more
What is Towards a Sustainable World?

What is Towards a Sustainable World?

n order to build a sustainable world, it is important to take the right steps. This article will cover those steps and why they are important. It will also cover the importance of sustainability and humanity’s destructive behaviors. Best Books on...

read more
What Makes a Sustainable Future?

What Makes a Sustainable Future?

hat does a sustainable future look like? It's hard to predict the future, but we can make educated guesses. A sustainable future will include a combination of social and environmental factors that are not detrimental to the next generation. Best...

read more
Is Sustainable Living Expensive?

Is Sustainable Living Expensive?

any people think sustainable living is expensive. However, there are many things that can be done to save money while living sustainably. Organic produce and using cloth diapers are two examples that are less expensive than buying the same item in...

read more
What is System Planning?

What is System Planning?

What Is System Planning?  system plan is a planning tool that helps you understand your business and its parts. By creating a system plan, you can improve efficiency and effectiveness in your business. In addition, a system plan can help you...

read more
What is System Planning in MIS?

What is System Planning in MIS?

n this comprehensive guide, you will learn about the different aspects of system planning in MIS, how it can be used to improve your organization's performance, and how it can be used to understand your data and assets. Best Books on Task...

read more
What is the Role of System Planning?

What is the Role of System Planning?

ask management tools are a type of software used to manage and track tasks. They can be used for any purpose, such as scheduling and tracking work, but they are most commonly used in the business world. Task management tools come in different...

read more
How Do You Track Tasks at Work?

How Do You Track Tasks at Work?

racking tasks at work is a great way to get things done. Not only does it help you stay organized, but it also helps you identify potential problems and solutions early on. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best ways to track tasks and get started....

read more
How Do You Manage a Team Task?

How Do You Manage a Team Task?

Managing a team is one of the most important skills you can have as an entrepreneur. When it comes to managing a team, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Here are some tips on how to manage a team task successfully: Best Books on...

read more
How Do You Handle Tasks?

How Do You Handle Tasks?

andling tasks better are important for both personal and professional success. It can help you get things done more quickly, and it can help you feel more satisfied with your work. However, there are a few key things to keep in mind when handling...

read more
How do you Approach a Task Manager?

How do you Approach a Task Manager?

o one likes a hassle. That’s why it’s important to find the right task manager before you even start working on your project. Task managers make it simple and efficient for you to complete your projects, without having to worry about tedious or...

read more
What are the 3 Project Control Methods?

What are the 3 Project Control Methods?

n order to achieve great results, it’s important to have a clear goal. Whether it’s getting into shape, increasing your productivity, or becoming more successful in life, setting goals is key. However, setting goals can be difficult. There are so...

read more
Is Wind Energy Sustainable?

Is Wind Energy Sustainable?

ind energy is often touted as a sustainable energy source. It’s efficient and cheap, and it doesn’t produce any emissions. But can wind energy really be sustainable? In this comprehensive guide, we answer the question: Is wind a sustainable energy...

read more
Why Green Energy is Sustainable?

Why Green Energy is Sustainable?

reen energy is sustainable because it’s cost-effective, it emits no pollutants, and it’s environmentally friendly. To be sustainable, green energy needs to be affordable, reliable, and clean. Here are some of the reasons why green energy is a...

read more
What is the Greenest Energy Source?

What is the Greenest Energy Source?

he term “green energy” has become a popular catchphrase, especially in recent years. However, when you actually think about it, most people would probably answer that wind or solar power is the greenest form of energy. After all, these are...

read more
Is Self-Sustaining Energy Possible?

Is Self-Sustaining Energy Possible?

ave you ever heard of self-sustaining energy? It’s a phrase that’s been around for a while, but it recently got a lot of attention because of Tesla’s new car. In order for a car to run on its own power, it needs to be fueled by something other...

read more
What is the Idea of Sustainability?

What is the Idea of Sustainability?

ustainability isn't just a big word that everybody likes to use. It's about making sure you're doing things right in a sustainable way. Starting from a pure eco-systems concept in the 1970s and in the World Conservation Strategy, it transformed...

read more
How Sustainable is Renewable?

How Sustainable is Renewable?

t's a good question as to whether renewable energy is sustainable. In fact, many people don't realize that many of our modern conveniences, like the computer and phone you're reading this on, are powered by fossil fuels. These are often not even...

read more
What is the Cleanest Form of Energy?

What is the Cleanest Form of Energy?

he sources of clean energy are considered to be green power (solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal). While green power is still viewed as clean and renewable, it is not considered to be “pure” in its source – which can pose problems if it is...

read more
How Can Energy be Sustainable?

How Can Energy be Sustainable?

There are so many ways to be energy efficient, but one of the most important ways is to use renewable energy. Renewable energy is the power that comes from natural resources, like water, wind, and solar. It's a more sustainable way to generate...

read more
What is Meant by Sustainable Energy?

What is Meant by Sustainable Energy?

ustainable energy is a growing area of study as we try to understand how to best use our planet's natural resources. This includes energy sources that do not harm our environment and that are still available. Renewable energy is one of the best...

read more
How Do You Manage Daily Tasks?

How Do You Manage Daily Tasks?

asks are a necessary part of our lives, but they can be difficult to manage. If you’re trying to get things done in an efficient and effective way, here are eleven tips to help you manage your tasks better. Best Books on Task Management Find a...

read more
Why is Task Management Important?

Why is Task Management Important?

here are so many demands on our time, and managing them all can be difficult. But task management is a crucial part of any successful business. Without a good task management system, it can be hard to stay organized and ensure that your work is...

read more
How Can You Improve Productivity?

How Can You Improve Productivity?

ask management is really just the ability to identify, organize, and complete tasks, in whatever form they may take. This can include planning and strategizing, tracking and checking tasks, prioritizing and delegating tasks. Beyond the tasks...

read more
What is Total Float?

What is Total Float?

he total float is the amount of work that can be delayed without delaying the project completion date. If the total float extends too far into the future, the project completion date is pushed out beyond the time when the project must be...

read more
How Do You Plan Tasks?

How Do You Plan Tasks?

asks are one of the most important aspects of life. Without a well-planned out system, it can be hard to get anything done. This is especially true when it comes to tasks that need more than one person’s participation. A task management system can...

read more
What are Task Management Skills?

What are Task Management Skills?

ask management is really just the ability to identify, organize, and complete tasks, in whatever form they may take. This can include planning and strategizing, tracking and checking tasks, prioritizing and delegating tasks. Beyond the tasks...

read more
What Are Task Management Tools?

What Are Task Management Tools?

ask management tools are a type of software used to manage and track tasks. They can be used for any purpose, such as scheduling and tracking work, but they are most commonly used in the business world. Task management tools come in different...

read more
What are the 3 Project Control Methods?

What are the 3 Project Control Methods?

n order to achieve great results, it’s important to have a clear goal. Whether it’s getting into shape, increasing your productivity, or becoming more successful in life, setting goals is key. However, setting goals can be difficult. There are so...

read more
What is the Best Way to Manage Tasks?

What is the Best Way to Manage Tasks?

ome people prefer to make lists and check them off, others use software, while still others can effectively manage their tasks by simply keeping them in their heads. The best approach is the one that works for you. If you find you’re crossing...

read more
Will Gold Be Confiscated Again?

Will Gold Be Confiscated Again?

t’s clear that government confiscation of gold has occurred throughout history. It’s also clear that the opportunities for future confiscation are much greater today. The government has not done this since 1933. However, if faced with a major...

read more
Is It Better To Have Cash or Gold?

Is It Better To Have Cash or Gold?

n the modern world, people often debate whether cash or gold is the best currency. Some believe that cash is more efficient because it’s not subject to inflation. Others argue that gold is more efficient because it doesn’t corrode and can be...

read more
Do Banks Buy Gold Coins?

Do Banks Buy Gold Coins?

o banks buy gold coins? This is a question that has been asked by many people in the past. There are a few reasons why banks might want to buy gold coins. The most common reason is to store the gold in a safe place. Another reason for banks to buy...

read more
How Do You Convert Gold Into Cash?

How Do You Convert Gold Into Cash?

ith so many people now living in economic climates where money is tight, it's important to have a way of converting gold into cash. This guide will show you how to do just that. You'll learn about the different ways to turn gold into cash, and how...

read more
How Can I Get 10X Growth?

How Can I Get 10X Growth?

hese days, many businesses are facing the same challenge: how can I double, grow at 10X, or even 100X? We’ve all been there. But how do you create your 10X growth? You’ll probably just start with a few extra dollars in your bank account, a few...

read more
How Do I Grow Business 10X?

How Do I Grow Business 10X?

ver dreamed of having a million dollars? Have you ever wanted to change the world and make a difference? If so, then this is the blog for you! In this post, we will be discussing how to grow your business using the 10x growth rule. This rule...

read more