Managing Strategic Surprise by Response to Weak Signals

Abstract

Modern strategic planning systems increasingly confront two difficulties: strategic information about impending threats and opportunities is perceived too late to permit timely and effective response; and the corporate planning cycle is too long to permit timely response to fast-developing events. In response to the first difficulty, the author develops a technique for early identification of early strategic signals and a method for matching the firm9s response to the quality of information. In response to the second problem, a real time planning system, called strategic issue management, is developed.