External Conditions in Corporate Planning-Scanning, Analysis and Forecasting

Scanning, Analysis and Forecasting Philip Thomas This paper offers the following approach to the development of the environmental scanning, analysis and forecasting aspect of the corporate planning function: First, the concepts of 'relevance', 'systems' and 'theory of the business' are discussed. The operational consequences of these concepts are then described. Finally, the major kinds of information to be scanned are listed and the approaches used to analyse and forecast these major external forces are described.