THIS is the time of the year when organizations are preparing for their annual strategic planning process. Oftentimes, the starting point for next year’s strategy is the current year’s strategy. Organizations concentrate on the segments and territories that they are familiar with, without realizing that the real opportunities are somewhere else. Thus, creative strategies seldom crop up from the annual strategic planning exercise. This necessitates the need for strategic thinking, particularly in the areas of crafting a vision and formulation of strategies.