The value of strategic planning for educational, business, governmental, and family institutions to make them more responsive to society and to insure their viability is addressed. The transition from an agricultural to an industrial society and then to a technological one can be described in terms of its impact on individuals, institutions, and society itself. Strategic planning and management matches results of an assessment of an external environment with the results of auditing internal strengths and weaknesses. In the case of large institutions, strategic planning and management requires the capability to collect and analyze a broad range of demographic, social, economic, and political data in order to develop a most likely scenario of their future. The process should assist institutions to capitalize on strengths, minimize weaknesses, take advantage of opportunities, and eliminate or reduce threats. It helps individuals understand their stage of development and formulate professional and personal goals in relation to an image of the future. As the technical, information society evolves, it is essential that institutions analyze the work culture and develop plans for intellectual capital formation. (SW)