A Comparative Analysis of Strategic Planning Based on a Systems Engineering Approach

Abstract

Strategic planning is an organizational process, the purpose of which is to conceive, formulate and manage the strategies implementation in the enterprise. The implementation of strategic planning involves the implementation of a set of actions aimed at taking the organization from a known position to a more desirable position, creating sustainable competitive advantages. This study deals with substantiating the role and importance of organizational strategic planning in the development of the organization using a systems approach. Systems engineering consists of a multidisciplinary and collaborative engineering approach, the purpose of which is to derive, develop and verify the effectiveness of decisions or the functioning of the system throughout its life cycle to satisfy the needs, expectations and desires of stakeholders. The purpose of this article is critically to analyze the Andrade method by comparing the processes and tools used in this method with those obtained as a result of traditional strategic planning. The methods were compared by developing a case study conducted in a science, technology and innovation institution operating in Brazil and annually conducting strategic planning cycles, using traditional methodologies for managing and analyzing the effectiveness of the organization and defining strategies for its development. The paper using the engineering system, carries out the comparison of the applied phases and tools with the offers in the model. The obtained results prove disadvantages of the traditional strategic planning process in comparison with the model proposed by Andrade. The application of the proposed model would allow to obtain indicators, different from the results of traditional strategic planning, in terms of forming another set of strategies and tools to manage the organization’s development. The paper concludes that the model proposed by Andrade is more complex than the traditional one. It indicates the expediency of organizations using other tools to analyze and formulate company development strategies in the context of strengthening their competitive advantages and achieving strategic goals. Keywords: Strategy, Strategic Planning, Strategic Planning Model, Strategic Management, Systems Engineering.