Strategic and Operational Planning, Uncertainty, and Performance in Small Firms

摘要: (Tables and illustrations not shown) INTRODUCTION The relationship between strategic planning organizational performance has been a subject of growing interest in the field management. Recent reviews have underscored importance issue pointed to gaps our knowledge planning/performance relationships.' A basic comclusion these that few studies adequately addressed because measurement conceptual problems. Of particular manner which independent variables operationalized. Few measured operational ways can be replicated. Furthermore, dependent variable, performance, many seldom examined over relevant time periods. Additionally, literature clearly highlighted organization context uncertainty determining relations. Indeed, considered more or less salient due type, industry, environmental uncertainty. purpose present study is partially address concerns. examines planning/ relationships for stratified random sample small firms three major industry sectors three-year period. It also an investigation degree affects both planning. Specific issues include: (1) planning, functional area with businesses using scale measures effort formality, as well scales measuring efforts; (2) differences manufacturing, retail, service sectors. Strategic Planning Performance We conceive plan as: written long-range plan, includes corporate mission statement objectives. strategies indicating how objectives will accomplished. provide substance from overall company controlled measured. Operational on other hand, defined setting short-term specific areas such finance, marketing, personnel. plans are general longer horizons than do plans. normally cover one-to-five-year period, whereas periods year. expressed day-to-day terms. might include inventory sales forecasts; financial, human resource, advertising budgets; monthly quarterly number early suggested simple positive formal generally concluded planners outperformed nonplanners, premise being superior informal process writing forces ideas thought out. recent by Robinson Pearce suggests sophisticated process, better performance. 7 Other suggesting numerous. However, all research yielded results. Several found either non-significant negative As explanation inconsistent findings, several variety precluded meaningful comparison findings across studies. …