Strategic planning and management (SPM) methods and benefits/problems encountered are examined, based on a survey of postsecondary institutions. In addition to considering administrative, technical, and resource requirements and conditions, guidelines for conducting SPM are presented. After an initial questionnaire to determine whether institutions used SPM, information was obtained from 96 colleges, 28.2% of the initial sample, or about 3% of U.S. higher education institutions. Attention is directed to: major purposes of doing SPM at the college; processes/steps engaged; general satisfaction with SPM processes; locus of development of specific methods for SPM; results and benefits realized from SPM and general satisfaction with results; institutional requirements/conditions for doing SPM (e.g., estimated timing, staff/faculty involved); problems encountered in SPM; and observations and recommendations regarding SPM. Results are analyzed for: public and private institutions; small, medium, and large colleges; and two-year, four-year offering master's degrees, four-year offering doctoral, and special institutions. Detailed findings and graphical representations are provided, and implications for further research are considered. The survey questionnaires and list of participating institutions are appended. (SW)