Management aids required in strategic planning are divided into three categories: (1) assessing the environment, (2) providing a process for reaching decisions, and (3) presenting criteria to evaluate strategic decisions. A model for scanning the environment has four dimensions that concern economic, social, knowledge-technology, and public policy areas. The point of strategic planning is to monitor the educational climate continuously and comprehensively, and scanning the environment helps to identify possible opportunities, such as social problems requiring action and areas of scientific progress. Two techniques for forecasting include probability-diffusion matrices and values profiling. A seven-step group process for decision-making covers: examining institutional mission, describing the institution, determining environmental forces, determining internal forces, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and specifying priorities. Outlines of considerations for each step are provided, and the initial activities of planning and opening a meeting of institutional representatives are covered. Three hypothetical documents that can be used to invite widespread participation and review in the strategic planning process are included. Criteria and a scale to test plans are also presented. (SW)