By Carol Hymowitz
The Wall Street Journal, September 11, 2006
(excerpt)

Companies still wedded to traditional planning each year make just 2 1/2 decisions that are "major," that is, with the potential to boost profits by at least 10%, according to a survey of 156 large companies by Marakon Associates. By contrast, companies that spotlight a few priorities and regularly hold strategy discussions – instead of reviewing scores of business unit plans all at once – make more than six big decisions each year, the study found.