Final answer:
Tactical decisions are short-term, efficient, and deal with day-to-day operations, while strategic decisions are long-term, focus on overall effectiveness and broader goals, and often involve higher levels of an organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tactical decisions can be distinguished from strategic decisions by a set of characteristics that relate to scope, time frame, and level of detail. Tactical decisions are concerned with the means of achieving objectives and are short-term, often focusing on efficiency and the best use of available resources. These decisions are usually made at a lower level of organization and are more reactive, dealing with the day-to-day operations.
Strategic decisions, on the other hand, are related to long-term goals and overall direction of an organization or state. They involve a higher level of abstraction and are more about effectiveness, shaping the desired future and often requiring a broader perspective. Strategic decisions typically involve senior management and focus on longer-lasting impact, and are thus more proactive in nature.
For example, in the context of the military sector, tactical decisions might involve how to win a specific battle, whereas strategic decisions would determine the overall war strategy and long-term objectives. Similarly, in environmental policy, a tactical decision would be selecting the best way to implement a new recycling initiative, while a strategic decision might involve setting a national policy for reducing overall waste.