Planning and decision-making at the strategic management level is a long-term process. Every planning and presentation in the plan is supported by various analyzed data of the market and within the company. When writing the plan, various tools are used that show the picture of the real state of the company. The collection of data does not stop only at the writing of the plan, but during the implementation of the strategic plan, data is often collected and analyzed anew. The strategic plan itself is a long-term process, and changes in the market can occur overnight. During changes in the market, managers/owners of companies scan and analyze the market and make decisions and changes in the approach to achieving the goal. For the purpose of confirming the set theoretical theses, on the topic of this work, an empirical research was also conducted. The research was conducted using an interview protocol. The same research presented a realistic picture of the practical view of managers on the very importance of strategic planning, the importance of a strategic plan, taking strategic steps, the importance of knowledge and skills in forming a strategic plan, defining key factors in the formation of decisions in crisis situations, choosing a decision-making approach when forming strategic decisions, and on the importance of measuring the effectiveness of the strategic decision made. Keywords: decision, management, plan, planning, strategy