This study analyzes some of the factors and processes which may influence strategic planning at technical and community colleges within four southern states: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. The investigation examined 59 colleges in terms of four areas: (1) demographics of the institutions; (2) policies, practices, and size of planning teams; (3) software tools used in strategic planning; and (4) characteristics of the chief executive officer (CEO). Approximately half of the colleges used software tools for strategic planning (41%) and the other half was either in the process of obtaining them (8%) or did not use them at all (51%). There was an extremely wide range in the size of colleges, the size of planning teams, and the CEO scores. Most colleges claimed to do college-wide planning every year or every two years and had strategic planning goals that were closely aligned with the mission and vision of the college. An analysis of variance for CEO scores indicated no significant differences among the institutions in terms of goal attainment. The only statistically significant finding was that colleges with well-written strategic planning guidance documentation tended to exhibit a higher goal attainment level. (Contains 17 tables, 2 figures, and 55 references.) (KP)