What distinguishes strategic planning from operational planning?

Strategic planning is primarily concerned with long-term goals and the overall direction of an organization. This type of planning involves setting objectives that outline where the organization intends to be in the future, typically over a three to five-year horizon or even longer. Strategic planning considers the vision and mission of the organization and aligns resources and efforts to achieve sustainability and competitive advantage.

By contrast, operational planning revolves around the day-to-day operations and the short-term execution of strategies. It is more tactical in nature, focusing on how to implement the strategic goals, including timelines, specific actions, resource allocation, and responsibilities on a much shorter timescale, usually covering annual or quarterly objectives.

The distinction is crucial in management accounting as it dictates how resources are allocated, how success is measured, and the level of detail involved in the planning process.