Which of the following is a potential pitfall of strategic planning?

• A. The plan sits on the shelf until the next time it is done
• B. The plan is too long and complex
• C. Vague action steps
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Strategic planning fails when it isn’t turned into concrete, actionable steps that someone is responsible for implementing. If a plan sits on the shelf until the next cycle, it quickly becomes out of date, loses relevance, and gains little real impact. If the plan is too long and complex, it becomes hard to understand and apply, making it difficult to drive coordinated action. Vague action steps leave no clear path: without specific tasks, owners, and deadlines, no one knows what to do next or how to measure progress. All of these pitfalls together undermine execution, communication, and accountability, so the best choice is that all of the above are serious issues to watch for in strategic planning. To avoid them, keep plans concise and focused, assign clear owners and deadlines, and translate strategy into specific, trackable actions reviewed regularly.