a) Environmental Scanning is the monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of information from the internal and external environments to key people within the organisation. This information relates to the factors which can have effects on the operations of the firm. (3 Marks)

b) Strategic planning is a process which involves taking a view of both the organisation and the future that it is likely to encounter, and then attempting to organise the structure and resources of the organisation accordingly. It deals with the statement of actions to be taken together with resources required to achieve goals. (3 Marks)

c) The strategic planning process includes the following steps:

1. Mission and Objectives: The rationale behind the company’s existence and the specific desired outcomes. (2 Marks)
2. Internal Assessment: Review of the organisation’s structure, skills, and processes. (2 Marks)
3. Environmental Assessment: External analysis of factors affecting the organisation and its competitors. (2 Marks)
4. Corporate Appraisal: Combination of internal and external assessments to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. (2 Marks)
5. Strategic Choice: Analysis and selection among alternative strategies. (2 Marks)
6. Implementation: Execution of strategies in the firm’s activities and practices. (2 Marks)
7. Review: Periodic review of strategies during implementation to solve challenges. (2 Marks)

Total: 20 Marks