KEY TO STRATEGIC PLANNING: INTEGRATING ANALYSIS AND INTUITION.

This article examines six key issues that are instrumental in helping managers integrate analysis and intuition when deciding on a company's strategic direction. The author further explains how these issues, when put in the proper perspective, will help a manager impose structure on a chaotic environment and create opportunities that will ultimately lead to an organization selecting an appropriate strategy. He discusses the implications of these six issues for strategic planners, managers, and business educators. The six issues that affect the ability of a firm to understand its environment and thus create strategic opportunities are: Intelligence, Organizational Balance, Analysis, Innovation, Proactivity, and Risk Taking.