Designed for institutional leaders facing fundamental questions of changes in mission, goals, external relations, and internal priorities, this collection offers an introduction to strategic planning and descriptions of planning processes at several community colleges. Section I includes the following essays: "What Is Strategic Planning?" by Fremont Kast and James E. Rosenzweig; "Planning Essentials," by Byron McClenney; "The Next Decade: Trends and Questions," by Iris M. Elfenbein; "The Trend Analysis Program of the American Council of Life Insurance," by Ronna Klingenberg; and "A Survey of Futuring Practices in Community Colleges," by Gunder A. Myran. In section II, the following essays describing planning in five community college settings are presented: "Managing and Financing Urban Community Colleges in the '80s: The Case for Strategic Management" and "Strategic Planning," by Nolen M. Ellison; "Financial Planning: The Future Reality Synthesizer," by Maurice P. Arth; "The Planning System at Valencia Community College," by James F. Gollattscheck; "Long-Range Planning at Washtenaw Community College," by Gunder A. Myran; "Academic Planning in Missouri's Kansas City Metropolitan Community College District," by Raymond N. Kieft; and "Long-Range Planning--And Preplanning: The Schoolcraft College Experience," by Wendy L. Gans and Louis A. Reibling. Finally, section III provides abstracts of related books, monographs, and articles; and an annotated bibliography of readings. (AYC)