Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Certification Practice Test

Which feature is typically associated with the Strategic Planning process?

1. Departmental focus

2. Whole organization outlook

3. Resource utilization

4. Daily operations

The correct answer is: Whole organization outlook

The feature that is typically associated with the Strategic Planning process is a whole organization outlook. Strategic planning is designed to guide an organization in achieving its long-term objectives by considering the interplay of various components across the entire organization rather than focusing solely on individual departments. This approach ensures that all parts of the organization are aligned and working towards common goals, fostering cohesion, collaboration, and a unified strategy. In the context of strategic planning, it is crucial to evaluate the external environment, internal capabilities, and available resources, taking into account how different organizational units can contribute to overall success. This holistic perspective allows for the identification of key opportunities and threats that might impact the organization as a whole, as well as the development of strategies that leverage strengths and address weaknesses across all departments. The other options, while relevant to various organizational functions, do not encapsulate the essence of strategic planning as comprehensively. For instance, departmental focus pertains more to individual areas within the organization, resource utilization is often a tactical or operational consideration, and daily operations deal with the routine activities necessary for organizational functioning, which are generally managed separately from the strategic planning process.