Final answer:
The output of strategic planning is a strategy, detailing long-range goals and actions to achieve them. It includes developing a long-term vision, making broadly focused foreign policy decisions, and creating a tangible Action Plan based on SMART goals to ensure measurable progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The output of strategic planning is the strategy, which spells out "the decision about long-range goals and the course of action to achieve these goals." Strategy involves developing a comprehensive approach to solving problems or achieving objectives. It is the initial phase that entails identifying the issue and then devising a plan to address it. Effective strategy creation often includes broadly focused foreign policy outputs such as public laws, international agreements, and the appointment process of officials. Conversely, sharply focused outputs may address more immediate decisions, like conducting drone strikes or developing short-term policies.
Strategic planning entails forming a long-term vision, which is shared by the wider community and includes land use and conservation goals among others. Once long-range goals are established, a Action Plan can be created to define specific steps necessary to reach the objectives. This plan, often characterized by SMART goals, helps to ensure that efforts are measurable, attainable, and time-bound. Notably, in the context of U.S. foreign policy, the distinction between broadly and sharply focused outputs is significant, as broader decisions generally have a more lasting impact due to their scale and required resources.