Which level of managers is responsible for strategic decision making?

Top management is responsible for strategic decision making within an organization. These leaders, which typically include positions such as CEOs, COOs, and other executive roles, are tasked with setting the overall direction and vision of the company. They analyze long-term trends, assess organizational performance, and determine the resources needed to achieve strategic goals. Their decisions often involve substantial financial investment, major shifts in business direction, and impacts on the entire organization, ensuring that the company remains competitive and sustainable in the long run.

While front-line management focuses on daily operations and middle management acts as a bridge between front-line employees and top management, it is the executives in top management who are charged with looking beyond immediate operational concerns to develop and implement strategies that shape the future of the organization. The board of directors, while influential and important in overseeing management and providing governance, primarily offers guidance and accountability rather than making day-to-day strategic decisions themselves.