Which term best captures the ongoing process of setting direction and coordinating actions to achieve long-term goals?

• A. Strategic Planning
• B. Strategic Management
• C. Strategy Evaluation
• D. Operations Management

Answer: (B)

Strategic management is the ongoing process of setting direction and coordinating actions to achieve long-term goals. It encompasses not only deciding where the organization should go (formulating strategy) but also mobilizing resources, aligning activities across functions, and continuously monitoring progress to adapt as the environment changes. This continuous cycle—planning, implementing, and evaluating—ensures the organization moves coherently toward its long-term objectives. By contrast, strategy evaluation focuses on assessing performance after the fact, operations management targets day-to-day efficiency, and strategic planning is primarily the planning phase rather than the entire, ongoing process.