Final answer:
A strategy is the basis for setting up the strategic level goals and plans, influencing tactical and operational elements. Individual decisions are made within the constraints of the strategy, ensuring alignment with larger goals. Strategic goal setting ensures coherent action at all levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
A strategy is the basis for the strategic level of goals and plans, which in turn shapes the tactical and the operational aspects of an organization or state's approach to achieving its objectives. This hierarchical approach is crucial as it ensures that the tactical methods and operational processes are aligned with the overarching strategic intent.
At the individual level of analysis, it's essential to understand how decision-makers within a state or organization work within the constraints imposed by the overarching strategy. This limits their choices but also serves to maintain consistency and alignment with the broader goals. The state level of analysis looks at collective decision-making processes and how the strategic choices are implemented at a broader scale, affecting policies and negotiations.
Essentially, goal setting and planning at the strategic level set the groundwork for effective implementation at the tactical and operational levels. This holistic approach helps to ensure that individual actors, whether in a state or an organization, are working towards common objectives and that their actions at all levels are guided by an overarching strategic framework.