Planning responsibilities by management level: top-level managers are primarily accountable for which class of plans and decisions?

Introduction / Context:
Organizations differentiate decisions by scope and horizon: operational (short-term execution), tactical (mid-range resource allocation), and strategic (long-term direction and positioning). Understanding who owns which layer is essential for aligning information systems and performance metrics with decision rights.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Top management includes the CEO, executive vice presidents, and corporate officers.
• Strategic decisions set direction, scope, and long-term goals.
• Tactical decisions translate strategy into departmental programs and budgets.

Concept / Approach:
Top-level managers evaluate the external environment, set mission and vision, choose competitive positioning, and approve enterprise-wide initiatives and capital allocations with multi-year implications. Consequently, their plans are strategic. Tactical planning is led primarily by middle management; operational planning is led by supervisors and front-line managers focusing on the near term and daily control.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Management theory and corporate governance practices consistently assign strategy formulation and long-range planning to top management.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Structured: describes problem type, not a planning layer.
• Simulation: a technique, not a plan category.
• Tactical: typically the remit of middle management.
• None: incorrect because “strategic” is clearly applicable.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing decision structure (structured vs. unstructured) with organizational level; these are orthogonal concepts.

Final Answer:
strategic