Question No-3: Manager's effectiveness in strategic planning and ultimately operational planning is unlikely to occur unless leaders and managers first understand the purpose of planning and its relationship with the other mission functions.

a) Define strategic and operational planning. Critically discuss this statement. (3 marks- limit)

 

Strategic planning is a process used by organizations to define their strategies or direction and decide how to allocate their resources to fulfill the strategies. The priorities are set at this point and may also extend to control mechanisms for guiding the strategy's implementation. For operational planning, it is a highly detailed plan that provides a clear picture of how a team or a department will contribute to achieving the organizational goals. Operational planning maps day-to-day tasks required to run a business and cover.

Step-by-step explanation

Managers and leaders should understand the real meaning of planning since they are the people who are involved in setting the company mission visions and goals. With planning, it defines all the strategies or directions used to achieve the company's goal. Also, the managers have a role in delegating, allocating resources to the employees to achieve the set strategies. Planning cannot succeed without the management roles, checking on their team's progress to make any necessary adjustments to maintain a clear picture of the organization's goals.