Dr. John Makokha – CORAT Africa.

July 2026

Introduction

Strategic planning is often viewed as a corporate exercise reserved for large organizations with abundant resources. But is it really? In my latest article, The Imperative of Strategic Planning for Organizational Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa, I examine more than five decades of global research alongside evidence from across Africa to answer a fundamental question: Does strategic planning actually improve organizational performance?

The evidence is compelling. Organizations that engage in structured, forward-looking strategic planning consistently outperform those that do not. Across businesses, NGOs, public institutions, and higher education, strategic planning enhances organizational effectiveness, strengthens competitive advantage, improves resource allocation, and increases the likelihood of long-term survival.

Drawing on empirical studies from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania, and South Africa, the article demonstrates that strategic planning is not simply about producing a document—it is about building an adaptive organizational capability. In today’s rapidly changing environment, success depends not only on having a strategy but on ensuring that strategy remains flexible enough to respond to uncertainty, emerging opportunities, and changing market conditions.

The article also proposes a new conceptual framework for Sub-Saharan Africa by integrating the Resource-Based View, Contingency Theory, and Systems Theory. This framework explains not only whether strategic planning improves performance, but also how and under what conditions it delivers results.

The central message is clear: Strategic planning is no longer a luxury—it is an imperative. Organizations that plan strategically are better positioned to navigate uncertainty, align resources with priorities, strengthen accountability, and achieve sustainable impact.

Whether you are leading a business, NGO, church, university, or government institution, this research offers evidence-based insights for turning vision into measurable results.

I invite you to read the article and join the conversation on building stronger, more resilient organizations across Africa.

Access the article here: DOI: https://doi.org/10.33423/4qbdt453