Content area
Full text
The study highlights the importance of strategic planning tools and techniques. Webster et al. (1989) argued that the usage of available tools and techniques will enhance managers ' analytical and diagnostic skills. The study utilizes thirteen tools and techniques in the questionnaire. Literature review was conducted to support the argument made by Webster et al. (1989). Out of the 72 Saudi organizations investigated, only 10% of the planners reported using these techniques regularly with an additional 17% saying only use them frequently. The most regularly and widely used technique is analysis of critical success factors, followed by benchmarking, and then what if analysis. Swat analysis, product life cycle, and stakeholder analysis had received moderate use, while Pims, experience curve, portfolio analysis, and value chain analysis had received very limited use. Finally, Delphi, cognitive mapping, and Porter's five-force analysis were found to be the least used tools in the sector analysis, the 17 joint venture firms and the 29 large turnover firms declared the greatest use of many of these tools and techniques in comparison with other sectors involved in the study. On average, almost half of the respondents reported that they do not use these strategic tools in their planning activities.
Introduction
Successful organizations now more than ever recognize the importance of strategic planning in achieving desired business results. Companies clearly have a competitive advantage when they can develop an effective strategic plan. As the saying goes, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."
Most business leaders recognize the importance of strategic planning, but few succeed at translating their strategies into business results. There is an obvious scarcity of research on strategic planning in the Arabian Gulf region, and in Saudi Arabia in particular.
The analysis reported here is an attempt to assess the level of using of strategic planning tools and techniques in Saudi Arabia. A working paper by Salem M Al Ghamdi and Sami Al-Wuhaibi (2001) investigated the extent of strategic planning activities in Saudi Arabian companies. The findings showed that Saudi companies are aware and use some form of strategic planning. We are intended in this study to find out what are the tools and techniques used by Saudi companies for such activity.
...