It is a strange requirement in that as Howard points out, it is not auditable. Registrars give cursory glances a materials put before them. I wonder if you gave them a recipe book with a book cover with "Strategic Business Planning for Company XYZ" would they be satisfied? I know that is a bit of a reach (and not integritous), but the reviews I have been subject to really don't go beyond the Table of Contents. My point being is that this requirement can be easily satisfied with the wrong evidence.
It is important, however, to establish with your Customers that you are not a run of the mill supplier using adhoc judgement to stay in business. The Customer is trying to build a partnership, longer term at that. Organizations looking to the future are at the very least, looking in the right direction. Formalizing this does not gaurantee success. It ensures nothing. It provides an organization with a potential blue print to be successful, a reference document when people begin to forget what they said or what direction they are heading. This is sort of like the Quality Policy hanging on a wall, on the back of a business card, or laminated handout. By itself it is nothing. What it stands for may be everything.
I do not know if there has ever been a correlation study done to determine if a strong relationship exist between formalized strategic plans and organizational success, but I will comply with the requirement until someone can show me the reverse correlation is true.
Back to the group...
Kevin
