Operational planning is a management approach that builds the framework for what your business will concentrate on to make improvements in the near future. This differs from strategic planning, which is focused more on long-term goals, and your vision for the business at least three to five years into the future. The operational plan for the year should continue to move the business towards the goals outlined in the strategic plan. Your operational plan can be broken down into many different departments (crops, herd health, feeding, manure management, parlor, replacement herd, etc.), whereas your strategic plan is the blueprint for the business as a whole.