Differences between Policies and Tactics
Table of Contents
Definition of Policy
Policies are broad guidelines which direct the future course of the business.
Definition of Tactics
Tactics are micro-level actions which which contribute for the achievement of policies and organizational objectives.
Differences between Policies and Tactics
The following table presents the differences between policies and tactics.
| Policies | Tactics |
|---|---|
| 1. Policies are broad guidelines | 1. Tactics are micro level — activities or actions. They are specific methods used to achieve the policies. |
| 2. Policies are concerned with thinking | 2. Tactics are concerned with a specific area of operation. They are action — oriented |
| 3. Policies are concerned with the long-range planning | 3. Tactics deal with immediate problem like decline in sales. |
| 4. Scope of the policies is wide, broad and of long-range | 4. Scope of the tactics is narrow, specific and of very short-range. |
| 5. Policies are over all guide for the entire business and external environment. | 5. Tactics are developed to utilise available resources in the best possible manner. |
| 6. Policy implementation and delegation of authority for implementation depend upon the size of the firm. | 6. Tactics are executed by the junior executives. Their responsibilities are clear and specific. |
| 7. Policies are generally mission oriented. | 7. Tactics are goal and target oriented |
| 8. Policies give birth to strategies hence policies are primary | 8. Strategies give birth to tactics. Therefore, tactics are primarily derived from policies. |
| 9. Policies are drawn at estimating the future availability of different kinds of resources like financial, human and material. | 9. Tactics are concerned with the mobilisation and utilisation of presently available resources. |
| 10. Main role of policies is to guide and direct the future course of the business. | 10. Role of Tactics is to solve the present/existing problems. |
| 11. Policies are future oriented | 11. Tactics are current — oriented. |
| 12. Policies are stable but not rigid. | 12. Tactics are formulated to suit the requirements of each problem separately. |
