John M. Bryson is McKnight Presidential Professor Emeritus at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He works in the areas of leadership, strategic management, collaboration, and the design of organizational and community change processes. He is a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Public Administration.

Bert George is a Professor in Public Management at the Department of Public and International Affairs of the City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR. His teaching, research and service focus on strategy processes and practices in the public and nonprofit sectors, and behavioral public policy and administration. He was Editor of Public Administration Review (2021-2024) and is currently Deputy Editor of Public Management Review.

Table, Figures, Exhibits, and Vignettes xvii

Preface xxi

Acknowledgments for the Sixth Edition xxxi

The Authors xxxv

Part One: Understanding the Dynamics of Strategic Planning 1

1 Why Strategic Planning Is More Important Than Ever 3

2 The Strategy Change Cycle: An Effective Strategic Planning and Management Approach for Public and Nonprofit Organizations 37

Part Two: Key Steps in Thinking, Acting, and Learning Strategically 81

3 Initiating and Agreeing on a Strategic Planning Process 83

4 Clarifying Organizational Mandates, Mission, and Values 123

5 Assessing the Environment to Identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges or Threats 153

6 Identifying Strategic Issues Facing the Organization 195

7 Formulating and Adopting Strategies and Plans to Manage the Issues 235

8 Establishing an Effective Organizational Vision for the Future 289

9 Implementing Strategies and Plans Successfully 303

10 Reassessing and Revising Strategies and Plans 353

Part Three: Managing the Process and Getting Started With Strategic Planning 379

11 Leadership Roles in Making Strategic Planning Work 381

12 Getting Started with Strategic Planning 411

Part Four: Resources 433

Resource A: A Guide to Stakeholder Identification and Analysis Techniques 435

Resource B: Digital Tools, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data in the Strategic Planning Process 459

References 499

Name Index 529

Subject Index 539