A contingency approach towards strategic planning at national level : Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 perspective

الملخص EN

Many researchers have examined organization planning in its environment and its context by applying contingency theory in private sector, which enriches the field of strategic management.

This study applies contingency theory to government national planning (public sector).

Therefore, this paper aims to explore and investigate the contingency factors that induced Saudi Arabia to establish its vision 2030 in 2016.

A qualitative methodology was used by conducting semi-structured interviews and document analysis.

The analysis of data identifies two main contingency factors which led to establishment of vision 2030: internal and external factors.

The internal factors include unemployment rate, fiscal balance, corruption and change management, while the external factors are oil market volatility and diversification, foreign investment, dynamism and environmental munificence.

The findings of this research may assist policy makers to focus on these factors in order to successfully implement Vision 2030 strategy and accomplish its strategic objectives and goals.

Additionally, the study indicates that the contingency approach is not limited to business strategy, but also to government plans and strategies.

Finally, this study points out that strategic planning is contingent upon a government's internal and external situation.