Abstract:
The implementation of strategic planning in schools started in the United States
of America (USA) in the 1980s. It is not clear when the concept was first used in
South Africa, but its importance in the successful management of a school
cannot be underestimated. Strategic planning basically includes a group of
instruments, operations and concepts structured to help managers, leaders and
planners to think and act strategically. The planning process comprises a
definition of the goals, a valuation of the resources available for meeting the
goals, and the definition of definite plans or initiatives that are intended to achieve
the goals. The process usually includes a classification exercise that identifies
the highest priority initiatives.
The study addresses the management process and indicates how strategic
management fits into this process. Strategic planning is the process of deciding
on an organisation's goals, determining the policies and programmes necessary
to achieve all specific objectives, and establishing the methods essential to
assure that the policies and strategic programmes are implemented. Strategic
planning ensures that the school is associated with the changing internal and
external environment. This planning is formulated by top management and
focuses on the entire organisation.
A qualitative design was followed in which the opinions of principals and School
Governing Body chairpersons were sought through the use of open-ended
questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Method triangulation was
incorporated by the use of afore-mentioned data collection methods. Another
form of triangulation employed in this study is data source triangulation. This
entails making use of more than one group of participants to gather data. This
study obtained data from various groups of people as described in the sample.
The findings of the study indicate that strategic planning does not occur in many
schools in the Motheo district. If a form of strategic planning does occur, SGB
chairpersons are often excluded in the drafting and implementation of these
plans. Collaboration between School Management Teams and School
Governing Bodies is needed to ensure the successful drafting and
implementation of strategic plans
