The strategic planning process is guided by a model created by ISI to help organizations: 1) formulate a set of strategic priotities, and 2) align its organizational resource to support those priorities.

The planning process itself is built upon the following principles:

• Planning is emergent, in that it builds on current organizational strengths and assets.
  
  
• Planning is incremental, in that it recognizes that organizational life is usually a matter of “muddling through” rather than radical transformation.

• Planning is integrated, in that it emphasizes the alignment of all organizational activities, internal and external, with the strategic priorities of the organization.
  

• Planning is action-oriented, in that it leads to the development of operational plans.

The result of the planning process is a strategic framework that includes 3-5 strategic priorities, along a list of critical issues and next steps related to each priority.