Five Musts of Formal Planning explains how to turn forecasts into concrete actions that guide a company’s future.
This clear, practical guide shows how formal planning should align with strategy, involve the right people, and become a shared path for the organization. Readers will learn why planning is about choosing specific actions, not just predicting outcomes.
Across real-world scenarios, the book outlines common pitfalls—from confusing forecasting with planning to mismatched levels of decision making. It emphasizes integrating planning with other decision-support systems and tailoring formats to fit the company’s structure and goals. The result is a practical framework for building direction, commitment, and coordinated action throughout the organization.
- How to connect long-range planning to strategic decisions at the right levels
- Why organizational commitment and line-manager involvement matter for implementation
- How to design a common content and format that enables aggregation and coordination
- Ways to integrate planning with budgeting, operations, and information systems
Ideal for managers and students seeking a practical approach to formulating and executing long-term plans.
Peter Lorange is President of the Lorange Institute of Business, Zurich and is one of the world's foremost business school academics. He is Professor of Strategy at IMD, Switzerland and was the President of IMD (1993 2008). Prior to this, he was President of the Norwegian School of Management in Oslo.