AbstractThe need for planning in business organizations operating in today's complex environment is widely accepted. Implied is an assumption that planning improves performance. However, the empirical evidence for such a claim is thin. Since planning is an integral part of strategy formulation, the facts to confirm or refute an assumed connection between planning and performance invite attention. Our research focuses on new data from 61 companies which test this linkage and, in addition, reviews the conclusions of prior empirical studies.