Is strategic planning the foundation of a successful business? . If you've taken other business courses, you'll notice that strategic planning is discussed frequently. Strong strategic planning has been linked to higher success rates within a business. A great example of a successful business with strong strategic planning efforts is Apple. Even non-profit organizations, like Harrisburg Area Community College, need to have a strategic plan. If strategic planning is so important, then why does research from the Harvard Business Review show that "85% of executive leadership teams spend less than one hour per month discussing strategy and 50% spend no time at all." This research also shows that about 95% of company employees don't understand their company's strategy. Could this be why "90% of businesses fail to meet their strategic targets?" .