Professional Educator and Organizational Leader, Jeffery Whippo explains that personnel assigned to provide environmental scanning for organizations are tasked with providing an increased awareness and understanding of long-term environments helping to improve their strategic planning capabilities. The information collected during environmental scanning is critical in product design, formulation of marketing strategies, determination of marketing mix, and research and development strategies. One of the key outcomes of environmental scanning is that it motivates managers to become sensitive to environmental trends while inspiring them to focus on strategy rather than tactics. This allows them to better understand the strategic problems that a business may be facing instead of just focusing on short-term tactics.

Jeff Whippo describes the six main tasks that must be accomplished by those that are in charge of environmental scanning.

1. Trend Monitoring
2. Forecast Preparation
3. Internal Consulting
4. Development of an Information Center
5. Communications
6. Process Improvement

Whippo further says that the continuous development of new tools and techniques, the design of improved forecasting systems, understanding and applying methodologies developed outside of the organization and ensuring that the company is constantly following a process of self-evaluation followed by self-correction is critical to the continued success of environmental scanning.

About Jeffery Whippo

Jeffery Whippo is a professional educator and developer of people, teams, and leaders. He is a well-educated professional who has attended California Coast University, Boston University, California State Polytechnic University, Community College of the Air Force, and Citrus College. He also worked as a Combat Intelligence Specialist for the USAF for almost 4 years. He contributes to a number of charitable causes including the Jimmy Fund, Junior Diabetes, Goodwill, and American Veterans.

Jeffery is an avid learner who loves to study ancient history and psychology. He is also a veteran member of the VFW.