Dwight Eisenhower quote: „Plans are nothing, planning is everything.“ clearly shows the importance of planning. A plan is a dream that will most likely not come true without planning. Planning encourages action, defining goals to be achieved. It is necessary to define priorities and direction of movement where we want to go. In order to investigate what is to be achieved, it is necessary to return to the main question, which is why? The mentioned question is also the main question and the inspiration of the author of the book: „Start with why“ by Simon Sinek, which should serve everyone, and above all policy makers, to clearly define why something is being done or why strategies are adopted. In the conditions of the adoption of numerous strategies the necessary question is whether their implementation is monitored and evaluated. In this regard, the focus of the paper is on monitoring and evaluation as the most important parts of strategic planning that are often neglected. Failure to adopt a clear structure for the implementation of the strategic document, and then for monitoring and evaluation, leaves the possibility of different interpretations of the implementation, delay in the direction and action of other strategic documents arising from higher ranking ones. The paper examines the strategic framework of implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation in order to be able to react in a timely and in an adequate manner with the aim of truly achieving the set goals of the strategic document. The paper is divided into three parts: 1) the theoretical part, which analyzes the main terms (strategy, strategic planning, strategic management, monitoring and evaluation), 2) the research part, which analyzes the legislative institutional framework of strategic planning in the Republic of Croatia and analyzes good practice of Danish sustainable development strategies and 3) suggestions for improving the strategic planning system for monitoring and evaluation of strategic documents, primarily for the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia until 2030 as the fundamental document of the Republic of Croatia. The results of the research show the impact that a quality monitoring and evaluation system has on the timely redefinition of strategic goals, as well as the necessity of investing in the education of employees who work on monitoring and evaluation. The consequences of ignoring and not investing in employee education can be negative for the state and society as a whole. At the end of the paper, proposals are given to the bodies in the strategic planning system for further action and the creation of a framework for monitoring and evaluation of strategic documents. By implementing the adopted strategies, goals are achieved that affect the progress of the society in which we operate.