Strategic planning (SP), which has been used since the 1960s by business and industry, is now being used by schools, municipalities, universities, and even churches. SP is a process designed to assist groups in developing a custom-designed plan to meet the specific needs of their own organization or community. The following are five important requirements of SP: broad-scale information gathering, broad-based communication and participation, divergent interests and values, exploration of alternatives, and examination of possible consequences of current decisions. Despite its proven benefits, SP is not for every community. Two circumstances in which communities should not become involved in SP are as follows: (1) if the community lacks the skills, financial and human resources, and commitment required for key decision makers to produce a viable plan; and (2) if implementation of the strategic plan developed is unlikely. The four basic steps in SP are organizing, analyzing, strategizing, and implementing. As communities engage in systematic SP, they will likely experience many of the following identified benefits: efficient use of scarce resources, improved coordination, community consensus, increased public awareness, strengthened competitive position, forward thinking, and focus of community efforts on key issues. (MN)