Mai Cox, Timothy Eveleigh
ABSTRACT Strategic planning is an ongoing process through which an organization defines its mission and vision by developing an actionable roadmap with clearly established performance targets. This study aims to identify the core constructs of strategic planning and systems thinking, clarify the interrelationships between these fields, and apply systems thinking principles and tools to systematize the strategic planning process. A systems‐based approach to strategic planning helps clarify the concept and highlights the systemic characteristics that can be leveraged during periods of strategic change. In this study, the core constructs of strategic planning were identified through a comprehensive literature review, providing a foundation for recognizing and systematizing the strategic planning process. Key concepts from strategic planning and systems thinking were synthesized to apply a soft systems methodology, supported by a diagramming technique called systemigrams, to model the strategic planning process as a system. The outcome of this methodical approach is a unified definition and structured representation of the strategic planning system. The proposed framework provides a structured foundation for analyzing, communicating, and improving strategic planning processes, with practical implications for organizations operating in complex and dynamic environments.