The strategic planning process is a cycle that concludes with strategic control. This final step involves monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the chosen strategy to ensure that organizational goals are being met. It includes performance measurement, comparing results to objectives, and taking corrective actions as needed. This control phase provides critical feedback that informs future strategic planning cycles, making it the essential final step for continuous improvement and adaptation.

A. Goal setting: This is an early stage in the strategic planning process where the organization defines its mission, vision, and specific objectives.

B. Strategy formulation: This step occurs after analysis and goal setting; it involves developing specific plans and actions to achieve the established goals.

D. SWOT analysis: This is a situational analysis tool used during the initial phases of strategic planning to assess internal strengths/weaknesses and external opportunities/threats.

1. Carpenter

M.

Bauer

T.

& Erdogan

B. (2012). Management Principles

v. 1.1. Flat World Knowledge. Chapter 5.3

"The Basic Elements of Strategy". The text outlines the strategic management process

identifying "Strategy implementation and control" as the final phase. It states

"The fifth and final step in the process...is to evaluate the results and take corrective action as needed."

2. OpenStax. (2019). Principles of Management. Rice University. Chapter 6.1

"The Strategic Management Process". The text explicitly lists the five steps of the strategic management process

with "Step 5: Strategic Control" being the final step.

3. Wheelen

T. L.

& Hunger

J. D. (2011). Concepts in strategic management and business policy (13th ed.). Pearson. The basic model of strategic management presented in Chapter 1

Figure 1.2

"Strategic Management Model

" clearly depicts "Evaluation and Control" as the final phase of the process

which provides feedback to all preceding stages.