Which of the following is NOT one of the four approaches to planning used in organizations and nurse management?

• A. Reactive
• B. Inactive
• C. Strategic
• D. Proactive

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how managers approach planning in day-to-day organizational life. In nursing management, planning approaches are typically described as reactive, inactive, proactive, and interactive. Reactive planning means you respond after events occur and problems arise. Inactive means there’s little or no deliberate planning, letting events unfold with minimal guidance. Proactive planning involves anticipating future needs and preparing in advance. Interactive planning emphasizes collaboration, gathering input from others, and adjusting plans as situations change.

Strategic planning, while essential to an organization, is a broader, long-range process that sets overall direction, goals, and resource allocation across the organization. It operates at a higher level than the everyday planning approaches used in routine management. Because the question targets the four common day-to-day planning approaches, strategic planning is not considered one of those four.