What if the biggest reason companies miss their long-term goals isn't execution, but the plan itself?
In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down long-range planning (LRP) and why so many corporate strategy plans fail to deliver. While annual budgets focus on the next 12 months and long-term targets inspire investors, a true long-range plan bridges the gap by connecting strategy to financial reality.
We explore the difference between budgets, targets, and LRPs, why driver-based financial models are more reliable than simple growth assumptions, and how finance teams build strategic plans that executives can actually use to make decisions. Through real-world examples from Microsoft, Netflix, BlackBerry, and General Electric, we examine how strong long-range planning can drive transformation and how flawed assumptions can lead to corporate decline.