Which statement best defines a strategic plan?

• A. A Quick Budget Document
• B. A Roadmap That Provides Guidance, Goals, Action Steps, and Resources
• C. A Mission Statement with No Actions
• D. A Compliance Checklist

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is what a strategic plan truly is: a roadmap that links vision to action. A strategic plan should lay out where the organization is headed (guidance and goals) and how to get there (action steps), including what resources are needed (people, money, time, technology). This makes it a practical tool for coordinating efforts, prioritizing work, and allocating resources to strategic priorities, with timelines and ownership so progress can be tracked and adjusted as needed. It goes beyond a quick budget document, which focuses mainly on financial allocations; it goes beyond a mission statement with no actions, which describes purpose without a path to execution; and it isn’t a compliance checklist, which centers on governance and controls rather than strategic direction.