Which planning focuses on policies, procedures, and standards for achieving objectives?

• A. Strategic Planning
• B. Tactical Planning
• C. Contingency Planning
• D. Operational Planning

Answer: (D)

Operational planning focuses on turning policies, procedures, and standards into the concrete actions, workflows, and schedules used in everyday work to reach objectives. It deals with how work gets done on a daily basis, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and control by specifying who does what, when, and using which methods. This level of planning translates the organization’s rules and routines into the actual operations that drive results.

Strategic planning looks ahead to long-term goals and direction, outlining where the organization wants to go. Tactical planning sits between strategy and operations, translating strategic goals into specific actions and resource allocations at a mid-level. Contingency planning concentrates on responses and alternative courses of action if something goes wrong, preparing for disruptions.