The Impact of Strategic planning on Competitive advantage: The Mediating Role of Strategic Intelligence a Case Study of the Private Hospitals in the north of west bank in Palestine رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The study investigates how planning and strategy help private hospitals in the West Bank gain a competitive advantage, considering the region's challenging political and economic environment. It focuses on the role of strategic intelligence as a key factor. Researchers used questionnaires to collect data from hospital staff and managers, measuring aspects of strategic planning (top management practices, analysis, implementation, and evaluation), strategic intelligence, and competitive advantage. A study examined how strategic planning affects competitive advantage in five private hospitals in the northern West Bank. 60 questionnaires were distributed, with 50 returned (83.3% response rate). The questionnaire, designed for validity and reliability, covered demographics, strategic planning, strategic intelligence, and competitive advantage, using a 5-point Likert scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and PLS-SEM. The research revealed that strategic intelligence plays a pivotal mediating role in achieving competitive advantage at West Bank private hospitals. While top management involvement and strategic analysis alone showed minimal impact, strategy execution and assessment/control demonstrated significant positive effects when combined with strategic intelligence. The systematic collection and analysis of data through strategic intelligence enables hospitals to make informed decisions and adapt to market changes. The study concludes that West Bank private hospitals must strengthen their strategic intelligence capabilities by developing robust systems for market analysis and trend monitoring, while simultaneously improving their strategic plan implementation and evaluation processes to maintain competitive positioning and operational excellence. The study emphasizes critical recommendations for healthcare management success, investing in comprehensive strategic planning and intelligence training programs is essential, coupled with implementing advanced risk management frameworks. Moreover, the study stresses the importance of establishing partnerships with external evaluators to ensure unbiased performance assessment. These key recommendations aim to enhance decision-making capabilities and maintain competitive advantage in challenging healthcare environments. The study suggests that future research should focus on identifying which specific aspects of strategic intelligence have the strongest impact on competitive advantage, and evaluate how strategic partnerships between hospitals can lead to sustained competitive benefits, particularly in regions facing complex socio-political and economic challenges.