BHA 370 TD 2/2 OPERATIONAL Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay

Difference Between Strategic Planning and Operational Planning
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Difference Between Strategic Planning and Operational Planning
Strategic planning is a systematic process by which an organization develops policies, plans, and ways in which it wants to initiate and progress activities to achieve future desires. On the other hand, Operational planning is a short-term plan which focuses on achieving the company’s objectives in the long term (Gleeson,2018). t involves processes that predetermine the daily activities of the organization that show results within a year.
Strategic planning is undertaken by the highest level of management focusing on the long-term development of the organization. For instance; where the organization is now and where they want it to be in the future and what should be done to achieve the organization’s vision, mission, and set objectives (Al Shobaki et al., 2017). Operational planning is undertaken by middle-level management and focuses on planning daily operations to achieve set objectives(Houston,2018). Therefore, for an organization to achieve its goals and visions, the strategic plans within it should contain sequences of the operational plans which will ensure the smooth running of the organization.
Strategic planning is not made for a particular department hence it encompasses the entire organization (Markgraf,2018). Operational planning is classified into various departments, units, and the central sections in which planning is done individually and aligned with the strategic plan to achieve the organizational vision (Lavinsky,2013). For instance, skills of the employees, their attitudes; the condition of production equipment, and product quality have to be synchronized to achieve optimum operational efficiency.
When reporting a strategic plan, the strategic planning team will look at how the company as a whole is performing against the chosen objectives while remaining fairly on a higher level. They then prepare reports quarterly, biannually, and annually (Al Shobaki et al., 2017). Conversely, the operational plan is reported monthly outlining the status of several projects and tasks being undertaken in each department.
Strategic planning encompasses both internal and external environmental factors affecting the organization because it is concerned with what goes on within and outside the organization (Cascetta et al., 2016). Conversely, operational planning takes into account the internal business environment (Cascetta et al., 2016). This is because is designed at the departmental level.
Operational planning is designed to support and achieve the objectives set on the strategic planning document. A strategic plan on the hand is designed to meet the mission and vision of the organization (Al Shobaki et al., 2017).
The following is an example of strategic and operational planning in the he...