Barriers to Strategic Planning Implementation; Case of: Mashhad Electricity Distribution Company

Organizations have learned to evaluate their performance from the viewpoint of their customers to achieve competitive advantage. However, environmental turbulence remains the main challenge for organizations to succeed, requiring more attention to emerging opportunities and threats under strategically thinking and planning. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers in implementing strategic plan at Mashhad Electric Energy Distribution Company (MEEDC). To achieve research goal, a qualitative research method was sought to collect data from a panel of experts consisting of eleven top managers of MEEDC. A semi-structured interview was utilized and performed based on snowball technique. Collected data was deliberately classified and analyzed using NVIVO software. The result ended with eight distinct groups of barriers including cultural, Structural, managerial, environmental, human resource management, and lack of effective performance measures, insufficient resources, and inadequate strategy formulation. Finally, suggestions to ease or eliminate implementation barriers were provided to MEEDC managers and decision makers.