Strategic-decision quality in Flemish municipalities: the importance of formal and participatory strategic planning

Strategic planning (SP) has conquered the public sector by storm based on the assumption that SP’s approach to strategic decision-making strengthens strategic-decision quality (SDQ) in public organizations. Despite this assumption, it remains unclear if and how SP relates to SDQ. Drawing on survey data from 271 informants within 89 Flemish municipalities, we find that a SP process characterized by a systematic approach and the participation of top policymakers and managers as well as lower-level staff and external stakeholders contributes to SDQ