This unit presents the philosophy of integrating market planning into the strategic planning process to cope with an ever changing and challenging business environment characterised by unparalleled technological developments and intensifying competition. Strategic market planning enables managers to undertake a process of market analysis and identification that will determine what business direction it wants to achieve, and how to proceed in a systematic way to turn specific opportunities into profitable businesses. This unit presents a set of normative procedures, which may be utilised to generate a varied range of innovative strategic options and provides a basis for choosing a rational programme for action.