Due to changing economic and legal conditions, many hospitals are increasingly required to develop strategic plans and position themselves in a competitive environment. It is essential to secure and build market shares. Strategic planning and realignment form a crucial foundation for future development, which necessitates an analytical assessment of the current situation. Hospital management must clarify where the core competencies of the institution lie, what strengths it has compared to other hospitals, and what the success factors are. These factors include brand awareness, performance potential, image, and the hospital's sphere of influence. By comparing the current situation of a hospital with regionally and professionally competing institutions, the strategic baseline can be derived. As a result, it is important to enhance one's strengths and reduce existing weaknesses. Through suitable concepts for strategy development, hospitals can create situation-specific strategies. This book is aimed at hospital executives, researchers, practitioners, and students in health sciences, medicine, economics, and related fields. It aims to convey the fundamental understanding of strategic thinking and action, as well as to outline the basics of strategic planning and strategy development. Various concepts and tools will be presented, along with practical application examples.