Environmental scanning is defined as the process of collecting, analyzing, and distributing information for strategic purposes. The purpose of an environmental scan is to provide strategic intelligence by evaluating potentially significant environmental changes and trends to allow for adaptive planning. Environmental scanning often refers only to external factors but including internal factors can provide a more complete picture. Environmental scanning is one cycle in the larger strategic planning process.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING

2. What is environmental scanning? November 2008 WARP Fall Conference

3. What is environmental scanning? Definition: The process of collecting, analyzing, and distributing information for tactical and strategic purposes November 2008 WARP Fall Conference

4. What is environmental scanning?Purpose of an environmental scan: To provide strategic intelligence by evaluating potentially significant environmental changes Conveys both current environmental status and how it is changing  trends Alerts planners to trends that are converging, diverging, interacting, accelerating, or decelerating Ideal end-goal: allows for adaptive planning before these trends occur or fully develop November 2008 WARP Fall Conference

5. What is environmental scanning?Other characteristics: Often refers only to the environment that is external to the organization (also called the macroenvironment) Good strategic planning requires information on internal organizational factors, so whenever possible include these also(unless obtained in separate processes) November 2008 WARP Fall Conference

6. What is environmental scanning?How it fits in the planning cycle: One cycle in the strategic planning process November 2008 WARP Fall Conference

7. Demographic Environment AGE GENDER MARITAL STATUS BIRTH RATE RELIGION SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD AND INCOME LIFESTYLE AND INTERESTS November 2008 WARP Fall Conference